Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has solicited collaboration between the Royal Institute of British Architects and tertiary institutions in the state offering architecture as a course of study.
He also challenged the Nigerians Institute of Architecture (NIA) to come up with masterpieces for the development of the country, as well as organise competitions that would sharpen the skills of Architecture students in the country.
Governor Abiodun gave the call when he played host to the President of the Royal Institute of British Architect, Mr. Muyiwa Oki, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, describing the emergence as uncommon, having defied all odds to become the first black man to lead the Institute, urging him to ensure implementation of the collaboration in research and development.
Muyiwa Oki, a Nigerian-born British Architect, emerged the 80th President of the Institute on September, 2023, thus becoming the youngest and first black President of the association at the age of 32.
“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”, he said.
The governor informed that government was embarking on renewal across the state, beginning with the old Abeokuta housing scheme, through the Urban Renewal and Rejuvenation Process, while his administration had constructed about 3,500 affordable houses at Kobape, a suburb of Abeokuta, with similar projects executed in Sagamu, Ota, Ilaro and Ijebu-Ode, hinting that new and more sustainable housing projects were being put in place in conjunction with the United Kingdom Development Office, thereby checkmating housing deficit in the state and enhancing the living condition of the people.
“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.
While commending Mr. Muyiwa Oki for making the state and country proud, the state’s helmsman said, “We consider your elevation as something that we can benefit from. The kind of synergy can exist between you, the organisation you represent, the position you hold and your home state. You have distinguished yourself in your chosen career”.
Earlier, Mr. Oki appreciated the governor for giving him an audience, promising to use his new office to promote Architecture as a profession, address the challenges created by climate change and promote unity in diversity.
