The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has once again demonstrated its academic and creative prowess, with three (3) students from the Faculty of Architecture emerging victorious at the national finals of the 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest.
The team, comprising Meshach Chikanso Darah, Gospel Bakare, and Oluwabusolami Adesoji, and mentored by Arc. Akerele Oluwaseyi, represented Nigeria at the global finals in France.
Designing A Sustainable Design, Competing On AGlobal Stage
The UNILAG team stood out among over two hundred (200) universities from thirty-three (33) countries, showcasing a design that embodied sustainability, flexibility, innovation, and community integration.
Their project, Dialogue, focused on blurring boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, creating an architectural conversation between people, place, and culture.
The team’s journey began after completing their first semester exams in March 2025.
Under Arc. Oluwaseyi’s mentorship, they iterated their design, ensuring it was functional, contextually appropriate, and technically feasible.
The team’s proposal for the Chimilin Community Centre prioritized sustainability, aligning with Saint-Gobain’s Multi-Comfort framework. They incorporated energy-efficient systems, including:
Photovoltaic panels for solar energy generation
Ground-source heat pumps for sustainable heating and cooling
Rainwater harvesting system
Natural ventilation strategies to minimize mechanical energy dependence.
The team conducted an as-built study of the existing structure, identifying elements to retain and upgrade. Their strategy limited unnecessary demolition while adapting the structure for modern community use.
The result was a sustainable and community-focused transformation of an abandoned school building, designed to serve as a vibrant civic space that respects local traditions and supports social, educational, and cultural activities.
On Monday, September 1, 2025, the team was formally received on the 10th floor of Senate House by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, along with other members of university management. They were accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Professor Kayode Adebayo, and the Head of Department, Professor Tony Iweka.
The University helmswoman emphasized that the students’ success was not only a personal achievement but also a significant moment of pride for the entire university. She noted that their accomplishment reflects the depth of forward-thinking innovation developed and nurtured within the institution. According to her, this achievement serves as clear evidence that Nigerian students are capable of excelling and competing confidently on the global stage.
Professor Ogunsola also praised the Faculty for sustaining a culture of excellence and international relevance, and encouraged the team to keep building on their success as leaders in sustainable design and architecture.
Thereafter, the Vice-Chancellor, along with other members of the university management team, posed for photographs with the 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest champions.
