By Maureen Okon
Dr Opaluwa Ejiga, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Nile University, says architecture is a discipline that requires collaboration to be practiced effectively.
Ejiga said this on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of the 2026 Italian Design Day programme in Abuja, organised in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Architecture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day event had visiting architects from Italy, Luca Marullo and Stefano Colombo, the co-founders of Parasite 2.0 Studio.
Their presentation explained the transformation of temporary spaces into permanent architectural solutions, highlighting innovative and experimental design approaches.
Participants included students from the University of Abuja, Nile University of Nigeria, and Baze University.
The lecturer said that such synergy was important because the starting point for every school of architecture in Nigeria was to look at international architecture as part of its discipline.
“Italian architecture has always been a part of the Nigerian culture, so this collaboration is important.
Architecture is one discipline that you cannot do or create in your niche, because it requires collaboration and exposure. It is a discipline that is patronised by everyone,’’ he said.
Speaking on how Nigerian architectural brand can become a global brand, Ejiga said that platforms of this nature would give the students an opportunity to evolve.
“This kind of platforms will allow the students to evolve beyond the natural or the traditional architecture they are familiar with to the point where their work will be accepted as a global brand,’’ he said.
Marullo said that the topic of the Italian design for 2026 was “regenerate’’, adding that it has a lot to do with the power that architecture and design have in changing the environment.
He said that architecture and design were more than buildings, apartments or designing furniture, adding that the tools of designs can be used in a lot of different ways.
Dr AbdulRaheem Olakanbi, Head of Department of Architecture, University of Abuja, said that Italian architectural designs and innovation had been impactful to global architecture.
Olakanbi said that the synergy was apt as it aligned with what schools in Nigeria were doing, by exposing their students to international architecture.
“We have been looking forward to seeing a synergy of this nature in the Nigerian architectural world, where international architecture meets with our local professionals and with our students.
“We have been encouraging our students in our international, contemporary work and by respecting culture and social inclusiveness in our architectural approach with Italian rich designs,’’ he said.
Mrs Chinwe Sam-Amobi, Head of Department of Architecture, Baze University, said that the event was timely, coming at a time when architects were battling with non-professionals in the field.
Sam-Amobi said that the visiting architects opened up different aspects of architecture, ranging from furniture, interior designs, and fashion, among other aspects of architecture.
She said that it allowed the students to know the different aspects and options to choose and specialise on, which could be landscape, furniture, and other varieties of shapes and forms.
“This is very interesting, especially as they are their own clients, because architecture is going through a lot.
“A client in Nigeria will prefer to pay N100million to build his house but will be reluctant to pay N500,000 for an architect to design the house,’’ she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
