By Kelu Musa
Interior design professionals have called for stronger collaboration, technology adoption and professional certification to advance Nigeria’s built environment sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders made the call at the Abuja Interior Design Summit 2026 organised by FCT chapter of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) on Tuesday.
The event, with the theme “Balancing Nature, Culture and Technology in the Digital Age,” brought together design professionals, real estate and construction entrepreneurs, industry and supply chain experts, among other stakeholders.
In her welcome remarks, IDAN FCT Chairperson, Anthonia Ode, said designers must integrate nature, culture and technology to create sustainable spaces.
“Across the world, we are witnessing unprecedented technological advancement, and at the same time, there is a growing desire to reconnect with nature, preserve cultural identity, and create spaces that genuinely support human well-being.
“The question before us is not whether we choose nature, culture or technology, but how we bring them together in meaningful ways, to create environments that are sustainable, culturally relevant, technologically responsive, and deeply human,” she said.
Ode said the summit provided a platform for experts and stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovation and build partnerships capable of shaping the future of design in Nigeria.
“Today provides an opportunity to learn from experts, exchange ideas, challenge conventional thinking, showcase innovation, and build valuable connections that will shape the future of design in Nigeria and beyond,” she said.
In her speech, IDAN National President, Jacqueline Aki, described interior design as an important component of the built environment that should be recognised as part of the nation’s economic engine.
“The nation is built twice: once in its structures and again in the rooms where its people live and work,” she said.
Aki said the quality of schools, hospitals, offices and public buildings influenced productivity, healing, wellbeing and the value of national assets.
She urged professionals across the built environment sector to strengthen collaboration and build an ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable industry growth.
Founder of IDAN, Titi Ogunfere, said interior designers must embrace technology while maintaining professional competence and cultural relevance.
“Al can never take your job. You need to know your craft as we develop this profession, and use emerging technologies to improve efficiency and innovation,” she said.
Ogunfere stressed the need for stronger partnerships among professional bodies, educational institutions, media organisations and other industry stakeholders to advance the interior design profession.
She also underscored the importance of education in producing professionals capable of meeting local needs and international standards.
In her keynote address, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, described interior design as a vital contributor to Nigeria’s creative economy.
Musawa, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Arts and Culture, Moriam Ajaga, said technology had expanded access to global design ideas.
She however warned that innovation should not come at the expense of Nigeria’s cultural identity and heritage, adding that government was exploring policy, financing and investment frameworks to support creative industries, including design.
Ajaga said efforts were ongoing to promote the use of Nigerian designers in public buildings, institutions and infrastructure projects.
NAN also reports that the summit featured panel sessions moderated by Lape Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat and Design Limited, highlighting technology adoption, integrated collaboration and cultural integration in interior design.
During a panel session, Dr Amos Alao, President of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria, emphasised how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, influence design practice over the next decade.
Mrs Nmadili Okwuamabua, cultural designer and advocate for Afrocentric architecture and urban planning, urged professionals to develop solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge, local materials and cultural realities rather than relying solely on foreign models.
Security expert Jennesse Haruna highlighted the growing integration of smart technologies in buildings and called for greater consideration of security and community interaction in design.
Prof. Dolapo Amole of Obafemi Awolowo University underscored the importance of specialised education, saying professional training was essential for meeting growing industry demands.
Amole said design education should produce professionals who understand local contexts, meet global standards and effectively deploy emerging technologies.
Mrs Rakiyat Odunsi urged participants to continue promoting designs that integrate culture, technology and environmental sustainability, while fostering collaboration across the industry.
Odunsi expressed appreciation to speakers, sponsors and partners for contributing to the success of the summit.(NAN)
Edited by Joshua Olomu
