Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has solicited for collaboration between the Royal Institute of British Architects and tertiary institutions in Ogun State, offering architecture as a course of study.
The governor also challenged the Nigerians Institute of Architecture (NIA) to design a competition that would inspire architecture students in the country to sharpen their skills and come up with masterpieces for the development of the country.
Governor Abiodun spoke on Tuesday when he played host to the President of the Royal Institute of British Architect, Mr. Muyiwa Oki, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Muyiwa Oki is a Nigerian-born British architect who, on September 2023, emerged the 80th President of the Royal Institute of British Architect, thus becoming the youngest and first black president at the age of 32.
The governor, who described Mr. Oki’s feat as uncommon, having defied all odds to become the first black man to lead the institute, urged him to ensure the felicitation of such collaboration in such areas as research and development.
He said: “We believe that through your office, you should support your home State (Ogun). We have in some of our tertiary institutions Department of Architecture and I believe that a collaboration with you and your office in terms of research into how to build more sustainable and affordable housing units will go a long way.”
The governor said that his administration has constructed about 3,500 affordable houses at Kobape, a suburb of Abeokuta and turned the area into a bubbling town, noting that similar projects have been executed in Sagamu, Ota, Ilaro and Ijebu-Ode.
“We have done this believing that beyond making people landlords, we look at the entire value-chain, the entire eco-system which starts with architecture that design our sustainable and affordable housing but also the workers in terms of the artisans, bricklayers, carpenters, painters, among others and this created jobs for the people,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration is embarking on renewal through the Urban Renewal and Rejuvenation Process across the state, beginning with old Abeokuta housing scheme, saying new and more sustainable housing projects are being put in place in conjunction with the United Kingdom Development Office.
While commending Mr. Muyiwa Oki for making the state and country, Nigeria proud, Governor Abiodun said: “We consider this your elevation as something that we can benefit from. The kind of synergy can exist between you, the organization you represent, the position you hold, and your home state. You have distinguished yourself in your chosen career.”
Earlier in his remarks, Muyiwa Oki commended Governor Abiodun for giving him an audience, even as said that he has lined up three areas of interest to address as the president of the institute
Mr Oki stated that he would use his new office to promote the importance of architecture as a profession that plays a major role in the lives of the people; address the challenges created by climate change and promote unity in diversity being the first black man to attain such a position in the history of the institute.
