Architects Harp on Professionalism, Ethics to Tackle Housing, Infrastructure, Urbanisation Challenges

Hammed Shittu reports from Ilorin, Kwara State: Nigeria's president of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Sani Saulawa, has emphasized that the country's complex problems in housing, infrastructure, urbanisation, economic growth, climate resilience, and institutional capacity require more than just technical expertise. In his address at the 7th Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS 7.0) titled 'Professional Bodies and National Growth and Development – Perspectives and Reflections of an Architect', Saulawa stressed the importance of professional knowledge and ethics in influencing policy and shaping Nigeria's development outcomes.

He posed critical questions about whether professional bodies are merely regulating membership or actively contributing to national progress. The Kwara State chapter of the NIA organized the lecture, which featured a former NIA president, Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja, who highlighted Nigeria's paradox of economic growth without corresponding human development.

Faworaja argued that professional bodies must become central to policy-making, setting standards, regulating practice, advising government, and enforcing ethics. He emphasized that professional bodies are crucial in converting government funds into tangible public results. However, he also highlighted that government neglect, political interference, quackery, and weak internal governance have limited their collective impact.

The state Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, underscored the critical role of professional bodies in national development, particularly in Kwara State where infrastructure and urban transformation are ongoing. He called for deeper collaboration between government and professional institutions, emphasizing that architects have a responsibility to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and well-planned environments that benefit society.