By Lawrence Nwimo
Architects in Anambra state were, Thursday, charged to embrace emerging opportunities in their profession to expand their career goals, Orient Daily reports.
The charge was delivered at the 2021 Anambra Architects Conference themed: “Architectural Practice in Nigeria; Challenges and Future Possibilities, held at the Chikotel Hotel, Awka, the caoial of Anambra State.
Speaking at the event, the Keynote speaker, Arc. Mike Nwafor urged architects to venture into estate developments and explore various business models relating to the profession. He noted that the architect is created to rule his world and that all that is needed is for the architect to reach out, subdue and conquer his world with innovative ideas and architectural inventions.
Arc. Nwafor, a former Managing Director of Anambra State Housing Corporation said architects shouldn’t wait for recognitions but force themselves to be recognized through their products and services adding that business opportunities abound for architects and all other professionals.
Speaking on the conference theme: “Architectural Practice in Nigeria; Challenges and Future Possibilities, he expressed that architects in Nigeria are faced with rigorous challenges which militate against the supposed impact of the profession in the country.
While he mentioned climate change, shortage of qualified personnel, use of local building materials and affordable technology, as some of the key challenges of the profession in Nigeria, he listed that skills in graphic designing, drone aided projects, effective communication and expertise in real estate could enable an architect expand his career path in the technology driven world.
Earlier in his welcome remark, the chairman Nigerian Institute of Architects, Anambra state chapter Arch. Osita Okafor, said the conference would enlighten young professionals in the field to imbibe techniques of harnessing the potentials of the profession for survival in the COVID-19 induced hardship in the country and world at large.
He said the topics discussed at the event was selected such that it educates young ones on developmental practices and means for self upgrade with skills to sustain the evolving practices of the modern era.
Similarly, the Chairman of the occasion, Arc. Ven. Chuks Okoli, opined that the conference availed an opportunity to address the declining patronage of professionals in the execution of government projects as well as the emerging loopholes in beautification of the environment.
Other speakers at the event include Arc. Sir. Peter Okpala, Includsive and Innovative Solutions to Sustainable Development in Anambra; Arc. Tony Maduabum, Architectural education in post COVID-19 era; Arc. Okey Innocent Ezeobi, Architecture and Entrepreneurship and Arc. Nkemakolam Ume who spoke on ARCON, APCE and APRN.
Architectural students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University who were part of the conference, Miss Precious Okafor and Mr Joshua Akore, described architect as a broad course, sending a vote of thanks to the Institute for giving them opportunity to gain more knowledge.
The 2021 edition of the Architecture conference was graced by seasoned Architects and students from various institutions in the state and featured presentation of prises to the winners of the student design competition where the first to fourth winners smiled home with N100,000, N75,000, N50,000, and N20,000, respectively.