Pathways to Architectural Education and Practice Success in Nigeria
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Date
2015
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Journal of Education and Practice
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.