NUC grants ARCON’s request for upgrading architecture study to faculty status

At last, the quest for upgrading of architectural study in the Nigerian Universities, that has been pursued for a long period has eventually received the blessings of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The request has been at the instance of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) whose desire was to upgrade the study of architecture from departmental to faculty status.

Making the disclosure last week in Abuja during the annual colloquium organized by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), last week, it’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdulrasheed Abubakar hinted that the new policy would become operational in a few months to come, adding that the commission would soon hold a one-day retreat with all academic and practicing architects preparatory to the implementation of the  development.

Prof. Abubakar, who was represented by the Acting Director, Department of Students’ Support Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Mariam Salle, said “having been satisfied that ARCON had met all specified conditions, the NUC had approved in principle its request to upgrade architecture study in Nigeria universities from the developmental to faculty level.

“Ahead of implementing this development and to ensure seamless execution, a day retreat would be held very soon with the academics and the professionals to finalise the upgrading process”. Salle said. She added that a directive would be sent to the universities for immediate implementation.

The executive secretary commended ARCON’s request as “a good one; hence, NUC gave the approval”.

It was also stated that the approval would no doubt lift the profession of architecture to the next level, as the initiative will help the graduates in that discipline to be better off, while the studies of architecture will definitely be better off the same way.

The NUC representative urged leaders of the profession to embrace the approval and work towards improving the delivery of the curriculum.

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Reacting to the development,  President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Umaru Aliyu, said the approval brought a great excitement to council, because ARCON has been on this since 2012, adding it was a dream comes true.

“With this policy, it means the production of architects in Nigeria will triple.  Now that study of architecture study has been upgraded to faculty, it means that more prospective students would be admitted and that will clearly lead to increased number of architects in Nigeria”, said Umaru,

ARCON President said the  the move was initiated by the council in realisation that Nigeria was in shortfall of architects, as the nation needs about 18,000 architects to serve the populace.

He said to get it to this point, ARCON and NIA members both in public or private were sensitised and reached an accord to support the initiative.

According to him, the new policy would increase the production of architects, just as it would equally create more jobs and wealth in the country,

‎  Reacting to the development, ARCON Registrar, Umar Murnai, an architect, while thanking the NUC for accenting to its request, was of the view  that study of architecture in Nigerian cannot remain the same again.

According to the registrar, ARCON has been working assiduously to get to this point, assuring all stakeholders that it would not relent but ensure smooth implementation of the new policy.

‎   On his part, President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Adibe Njoku, said his members have been part of this initiative, saying it was a good development for the profession.

He added that the new government’s policy would go a long way to impact positively on the quality of architecture, built environment and the nation, as the issue of quackery would be effectively tackled.