Urban and Regional Planning (URP), in different contexts and conceptualisations, has been referred to as “town planning”, “urban planning”, “town and country planning” or “physical planning”. It is concerned with the spatial ordering of land use both in the urban and rural settings for the purpose of creating functionally efficient and aesthetically pleasing physical environment for living, working, circulation and recreation. It aims at improving the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive places for present and future generations. Urban and regional planning is a broad-based discipline, requiring a multi-disciplinary approach and knowledge. Therefore, it requires a comprehensive education and training in the planning, design and management of the total environment.

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning evolved from the Master of Planning Science (MPS) programme structured by the Department of Geography, Faculty of the Social Sciences, between 1974/75 and 1978/79 sessions. The MPS course had to fold up after the 1978/79 session for a number of reasons, chief among which was the non-recognition of the graduates of the programme by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP). In the 1980/81 session, the Department of Geography made a determined effort to re-organize the programme in a way that it would qualify for professional recognition. A new syllabus was, therefore, designed with the knowledge of and input from the NITP through its Education Committee. The programme, which was renamed Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) on the advice of the NITP, took off in the 1981/82 academic session with 18 students.

The Centre for Urban and Regional Planning became a full-fledged Department in March 2004. The long years of experience since 1983 has earned the Department an enviable position among planning schools in Nigeria. This has been achieved through several rigorous research works, studio demonstrations and in-depth academic work. Since its inception as a Centre in 1983 and its transformation into the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in 2004, only post-graduate programmes have been conducted in the Department. With the establishment of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management in the University, the undergraduate programme has commenced. The Department has had and passed all accreditation visits.