Pathways to Architectural Education and Practice Success in Nigeria

Dare-Abel, O.A. and Alagbe, O. A. and Aderonmu, P. A and Ekhaese, E. N. and Adewale , B. A. (2015) Pathways to Architectural Education and Practice Success in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 6 (4). pp. 169-175. ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)

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Abstract

Architectural practice and education has always been seen by architects and students of the discipline as a tough and demanding terrain. This may be connected to the obvious demands of the training of architects, characterized by long hours of design, drafting, and modelling. This does not end at the schools of architecture but continues through the practice journey. However, some veterans of the profession argue that this is the sure pathway towards success in architecture. This paper aims at providing pathways towards the preservation and sustenance of the relevance of the profession and architectural practice in Nigeria. The paper adopts a qualitative research approach while presenting findings from in-depth interviews of sixteen leading principals of architectural firms drawn from Lagos, Abuja, Benin-city, Enugu and Port Harcourt. The study explores the challenges of the practice environment, the shortcomings of the products from the schools; practice demands and the pathways to being a desirable graduate and architect in practice. The paper concludes with the recommendations that certain areas of study of architecture such as detailing, understanding of planning laws, regulations and entrepreneurship studies in architecture should be given intensified attention in the training institutions. The need for architects to reach out socially through all available media within the ambits of the law to promote commissions while being actively involved in the activities of their professional bodies was found to be a crucial path to practice success. Finally, partnerships and collaborations between architects and firms is assuredly a path towards promoting stronger, healthier and enduring architectural businesses.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TH Building construction
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Civil Engineering and the Environment
Depositing User:	Dr O. A. Alagbe
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2015 09:26
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2015 09:26
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/3632

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