TPL Catherine Kehinde George, FHITP, has been honoured at The Peak Performing Woman of the Year 2023 Summit.
IAMACHAMP LIMITED, a media platform, organised the Summit, Exhibition & Awards, which held on June 23, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, aimed at recognising and celebrating outstanding women who have made significant contributions to their industries and communities, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mrs. George, the first female town planner in Nigeria, for her commitment to mentoring girls and women spanning over three decades.
The event took place at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos,
The Peak Performing Woman of The Year is the 3rd level of action in IAMACHAMP LIMITED’s renewed commitment to SDG Goal 5. It is aimed at inspiring other women to strive for greatness.
Mrs. George was only recently honoured with the Award of Excellence by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) for her outstanding contribution to the Built Environment.
The award was presented to her at the Building Collapse Prevention: Women in the Building Industry Making a Difference Seminar held in Lagos State on July 6, 2023. TPL Yusuf Sulaimon FNITP RTP, President BCPO, and TPL Joseph Akande MNITP, RTP Chairman BCPG, Lagos State Chapter, presented the award to her.
On the plaque presented to her is inscribed: “Your dedication and Commitment Have Been Exemplary. We Celebrate you, Congratulations Dated this 6th Day of July, 2023”.
Mrs George has been committed to the growth of the town planning sector for over three decades. She has also been dedicated to mentoring girls and women in the industry.
She is a recipient of several honours and awards, including the Distinguished Professional Award by Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and the Construction Industry Hall of Fame by Construction Engineering Digest Forum at Abuja.
TPL Catherine Kehinde George, FHITP, was born a twin at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on June 14, 1948 as fourth child to professional parents of Ijebu-
Ode lineage: Pastor Surv. S.A. Sogunro – Pitan (of Pitan / Alebiosu
Fowora Dynasty) and Mrs. A. O. Sogunro-Pitan (of Ipaye / Odedina
Royal Dynasty).
An alumnus of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode,
(1958 -1963); and Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, (1964); Obtained the
Diploma in Town Planning in December 1967, at The Technical College
(now The Polytechnic) Ibadan, as an outstanding student; and her post
graduate Diploma in Town and Regional Planning with Honours at
The University of Melbourne, Australia in December 1972, becoming the first female Nigerian Professional Town Planner. Was inducted to the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame at Abuja in Nov. 2007 as the first female African Town Planner.
Commenced her working career in April 1965 at Ikeja Area Planning
Authority, Western Region, Nigeria (later Lagos State Development
and Property Corporation, thereby becoming a foundation staff of
Lagos State Civil Service). Won a sponsorship award to receive the
Diploma in Town Planning at The Technical College, Ibadan, December 1967. Won another Merit Award to pursue a two-year Post-Graduate
Programme at The University of Melbourne, Australia in January 1971.
Between 1973 and 1979, was Project Planner at Lagos State
Development and Property Corporation on Amuwo-Odofin New Town and Ogba Housing Scheme. Between 1980/1981, was Leader of the Technical Monitoring Team to map out the most feasible route for the 28km. Lagos Metro Line, Agege to Lagos Island.
Consultant Planner on Housing Estate in Ajaokuta: Technocrete
Limited (1982 – 1985); and on University of Uyo Master Plan (1993). In 1986, Went into academics, starting at Lagos State Polytechnic (Jan –June 1986) and later, Yaba College of Technology (July 1986 – Sept. 2000), where she became Head of Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning (1990-1992). She pioneered audio-visual teaching methods with video-recording of field work & studio presentations. She served as external examiner/moderator to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,
Abeokuta (1990-1991); Kaduna Polytechnic (1992-1993); The
Polytechnic, Ibadan (1998–1999); University of Lagos (2001–2002);
Yaba College of Technology (2002 – 2004).
Tpl. Mrs. C. Kehinde George is the first female Fellow of the Nigerian
Institute of Town Planners (NITP) 1987 and the first female African
Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute of Britain (RTPI) 1990. The
pioneer and first female Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Planning
Authority (1998 – 1999), and first female Chairman of Lagos State
Chapter of NITP (1998 – 2000). An elected Member of the National
Executive Council of NITP, 1987 – 1988, and 1990 – 1992; Vice –
Chairperson Yaba College of Technology Chapter of Women in
Technical Education (WITED) 1996 – 2000; Pioneer Chairman of Lagos
State Urban Forum for Slum Upgrading (Lagos Metropolitan
Development Project), 2001-2002: Member NITP/Town Planners
Registration Council (TOPREC) Examination Board (1998 – 2000).
Lectured on the Masters Programme in Urban and Regional Planning
at Lagos State University, 2011 to 2013. Founding member of the
Building Collapse Prevention Guild 2012 to date, and Chairman of
Lagos Chapter of BCPG.
At Spectroplan Konsult Ltd. – her major works as Director included
consultation for oil and gas industry: Lead Planner on Galadimawa
District Plan, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (2001-2006): Lead
Planner on Odonla Housing Scheme, Lagos State (2000-2002): and
Co-project Director, Ikorodu Master Plan (2008-2010) Inception to
Draft Final Stage.
She is a recipient of several honours and awards, and was inducted into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame at Abuja in November 2007 as the first female African Town Planner.
TPL George has made numerous presentations at local, national and international professional fora. She authored Basic Principles and Methods of Urban and Regional Planning, The Challenges of Urbanisation in Nigerian Urban Centres: THE LAGOS MEGA-CITY SITUATION–A Town Planner‟s Perspective, Urbanisation and the Lagos Mega City 2016, and Reflections: A 70th Birthday Anniversary Memoir: June 14, 2018.
She is a life member of Lagos Country Club, Ikeja and a patron of the Table-Tennis Section. She is also a founding member of Inner Wheel Club, Ilupeju, in 1983.
She is married to Arc. Akin George FNIA, of Thomas Ige George Family, Upper Offin Lane (Saliu Ariyo Lane), Ereko, Lagos Island, and the marriage is blessed with children and grandchildren.
She is a true inspiration to women in the building industry and a worthy recipient of the Award of Excellence by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).