ARCON Seeks Science, Technology Ministry’s Partnership to Boost Architecture

Bennett Oghifo

The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) is seeking partnership with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to boost architecture in Nigeria.

ARCON President, Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi stated this last week in Lagos.

He said, the new rapprochement was necessary, as no profession could do more than its exposure to IT and its use, adding that architecture is not static, as modern innovations were being developed and deployed within the professional circle.

The new deal, according to Ajayi, will significantly boost architecture in Nigeria and place Nigerian architects on a vantage position in the world.

Ajayi also warned all Nigerian higher institutions not to have unaccredited schools or programmes in architecture, saying such act is illegal.

Ajayi, who noted that despite the COVID-19 challenge, the council has not failed in carrying out due accreditations of schools across the country, however, lamented that some persons were still circumventing the process of validation for their programmes on architecture.

He said irrespective of other validations obtained by such schools from other agency of government, no programme on architecture should be run without ARCON’s approval and accreditation.

The accreditation, he said now covers both Nigerian universities and polytechnics, warning that the council will not hesitate to wield the big stick against any school found to be committing any infractions.

He said the council derives the power to register and control the practice of architecture in Nigeria and maintains a register of architects and architectural firms respectively in line
with the enabling Act.

He said this call was necessary, as it had been discovered that some unsuspecting public have been patronising some of these unregistered schools, saying anyone who failed to do due diligence on school of architecture before enlisting does so at his or her peril.

“On this note it would be imperative that I mention that the Council requires that universities and polytechnics graduating students in architecture, ensures that their programmes are duly accredited by the council.

“This cannot be taken for granted as there is no place for graduates of unaccredited programmes within the profession to practice.

“The council will not hesitate to wield the big stick within the ambit of the law on such institutions going forward,” Ajayi said.

The president added that, the council, may soon publish names of accredited schools of architecture in the country.

He said the 13th colloquium, which many adjudged as the best in recent times, made far-reaching recommendations. Some of them include that both the architectural professionals and
academia need to integrate a broad-based curriculum into the schools of architecture.

This, he said, should be expanded to respond to the urgent needs of tackling post-COVID-19 built environment issues and probable future pandemics.

Also, the government should initiate the framework and drive the mechanism to reconfigure, reimagining and retrofit existing housing stock, initiate new post-COVID-19 standardised housing for the public.

Ajayi, who is also a title chief in Ekiti, said that government at all levels, should partner with the architectural profession to provide emergency shelter solutions that are compliant with sustainable standards as delineated in the proceedings of the colloquium.