Sustainable Development and Architectural Practice in Nigeria

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA:
CURRENT AND EMERGING ISSUES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND

ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE IN
NIGERIA: CURRENT AND
EMERGING ISSUES
( A Seminar Presentation on Town and Gown for

Architecture Department, College of Science and
Technology, Covenant University, Ota)
by
Arc. Jegede Olabode O. mnia

(Principal Architect)
ARCHIWORTH ASSOCIATES
Development Consultants
Project Managers
Finishings
199, Igbosere Road,
Opp,Lagos State High Court,
Suite B, 3rd Floor,
Lagos State.
08033020715, 01-2904411
February 2015
By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT
Current and emerging issues in Architecture raise
a grave concern for sustainable development in
Architectural Practices. There has been huge
departure from the Practice of Architecture by first
generation firms in Nigeria and this is largely due
to socio-economic and political factors which had
been further worsened by the global economic
realities with attendant adverse toll on the
sustainability of the business of Architecture.
This has led several practitioners of the profession
to always have other vocations which more often
than not eventually become the main stay of their
economic relevance within a decade of their
establishment.

Architectural practices are becoming endangered,

in the face of threat from government regulations,
and deregulation of the construction space which
over the last one and a half decade has
encouraged large influx of foreign practices on
design and build package taking over the juicy
chunk of our limited construction projects.
This paper gives an appraisal of the current and
emerging issues in the practice of architecture as
a sustainable enterprise, while highlighting factors
or positive steps to be taking by relevant
stakeholders to arouse greater opportunities and
galvanize the practice of the profession against
imminent threats to its sustainability.
Keywords: architectural practice, sustainability,

mentorship, curricula, architectural education

INTRODUCTION
The term sustainable development has become a

mantra majorly in the academic world and of
course, in the larger society. This is a good
development and highly commendable, a
reflection of a society that is forward thinking and
especially careful of what the future holds.
However, every mantra that has taken on a
popular trend has the inherent potential to lose
their intrinsic value or the very essence of their
existence.

In view of this, I will like to define sustainable

development not only as a concept of futuristic
tendency, but of its conceptual relevance to the
practice of architecture both as a profession and
as an enterprise.
This paper shall essentially broach a topic for
wider discussion and to generate more robust
debate for the sustainability of a noble calling, a
profession of royalty and distinguished
personality in every human society.

We shall consider two pivotal definitions on

sustainable development with adequate
relevance to this discuss as follows:
A. “Sustainable development is maintaining

a delicate balance between the human need
to improve lifestyles and feeling of well-being
on one hand, and preserving natural
resources and ecosystems, on which we and
future generations depend.”
Fig One

B. World Commission on Environment and

Development in 1987 has the most quoted
definition from Our Common Future, also
known as the Brundtland Report[1] or Tokyo
declaration which says:
“Sustainable development is development
that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”
Fig Two
The above two established definitions has

properly point to the direction of this discuss in
the concept of sustainable development.

 The first definition emphasized on the well-

being of the Architectural practitioner, in
terms of improvement in lifestyles.
 The second definition graphically shows that

there can only be sustainability when there is
near equilibrium of the key factors of Social,
Environment and Economic quotient of the
practice.
 Figure two explained graphically that there

can only be sustainability in architectural
practice when the three key factors have a
convenient and reasonable meeting point.
 There are three generic deductions which are
the resultant of lack of one or inadequate
representation of the other with same near
fatal but defective scenarios.

 These three scenarios shall be summarized

below and they singularly or sometimes acts
in conjunction to depict the current dilemma
of Architectural Practices in Nigeria.
 SCENE ONE: A practice that connects only

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS is
merely BEARABLE
 SCENE TWO: A practice that connects SOCIAL

& ECONOMIC FACTORS is merely EQUITABLE
 SCENE THREE: A practice that connects

ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC FACTORS is
merely VIABLE
“All definitions of sustainable development

require that we see the world as a system- a
system that connects space; and a system that
connects time”

“When you think of the world as a system over

space, you grow to understand that air pollution
from North America affects air quality in Asia,
and that pesticides sprayed in Argentina could
harm fish stocks off the coast of Australia.”
 Thinking of the world as a system over space

implies that any mistrust or disaffection
caused by an Architect in Maiduguri has a
commensurate effect on the perception of
Architects in Ibadan or Port Harcourt.
 This is an allegory to the fact that Nigerians

believe that Nigerian Police is corrupt and
brutal, yet there are still a handful of good
men and women in the Nigerian Police Force.

“And when you think of the world as a system

over time, you start to realize that the decisions
our grandparents made about how to farm the
land continue to affect agricultural practice
today; and the economic policies we endorse
today will have an impact on urban poverty
when our children are adults.
 In simple terms, our poor handling of briefs

and project management tools resulting in
poor project delivery today has the capacity
to affect the acceptance and engagement of
Architects in the near future.

CURRENT ISSUES IN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

IN NIGERIA
 The practice of Architecture in Nigeria today is

not encouraging and purely non-sustainable.
 This can largely be traced to issues of poor

remunerations which have succinctly
destroyed the fabrics of the profession and
have largely affected the training of
Architects, reductions in the quality of service
delivery, inadequate analysis and brief
development.
 The consequence of this is poor project

delivery, time and cost overrun and
abandoned projects which dotted the
landscape of Nigeria from North to South,
East to West.

 We cannot completely exonerate Architects

from the myriad of abandoned projects all
across the nation, though policy makers and
politicians for various intent and purpose are
the major culprit in the incidence of
abandoned projects.
 However, to every project abandoned by a

private investor, there is overwhelming
tendency that the Architects is culpable
through omission or commission and due to
negligence in carrying out their professional
duties and properly advised the policy maker
or project initiator at the commencement.

ARCHITECTS’ FEES
 This is a relatively small percentage of the

total project cost. It is always calculated on a
percentage through the Sliding Scale Fees, or
Lump Sum basis or Time-Charges otherwise
called Man-Month Rates.
 The fee quotient is always very minimal in

comparison to the volume of works required
as Architects Obligations in the execution of
the works, however further negotiations are
often demanded by Clients both in public and
private sectors.
 The situation gets so bad that the right level

of quality staff in terms of professional
training and experience could not be
deployed on projects due to the accruable
fees.

 The project and the client becomes the

ultimate loser at the long run but the
Architects and the profession is also brought
into disrepute.
 This is a non-sustainable development. It

affects the future of the practice much more
than it affects the present.

APPENDIX - SCHEDULE OF WORLD WIDE

FEES COMPARISON
Consultancy Services Fees as
a Percentage of Construction
Cost
Structural M&E QS/Cost Total

Architect Other
Engineer Engineer Consultant Fee
GHANA
Architect fees dependent on 8.00% *4.5% *4% *4% 8.00%
cost of project
EUROPE
Belgium 8.00% 0.05% 1.00% 0.75% 0.25% 10.05%
Denmark 5.00% 3.00% 4.00% 12.00%
Finland 4.00% 2.50% 1.60% 0.40% 8.50%
France 4.65% 2.50% 0.65% 0.50% 8.30%
Germany 6.50% 3.90% 2.70% 1.50% 2.00% 16.60%
Great Britain 5.50% 2.75% 3.25% 3.25% 14.75%
Greece 3.00% 1.50% 1.50% 1.00% 7.00%
Ireland 5.00% 1.80% 1.65% 2.60% 11.05%
Netherlands 5.50% 1.20% 1.50% 0.50% 1.50% 10.20%
Portugal 6.00% 1.50% 2.00% 1.50% 3.50% 14.50%
Spain 8.00% 1.25% 1.70% 10.95%
Sweden 5.50% 2.40% 3.90% 0.20% 12.00%
Nigeria 4.50% 3.00% 3.90% 2.75% 14.15%
NORTH AMERICA
Canada 3.25% 1.25% 1.75% 0.25% 0.25% 6.75%
Mexico 5.00% 2.00% 2.50% 1.00% 1.50% 12.00%
USA 6.20%
ASIA
Australia 3.75% 1.00% 1.50% 1.00% 0.85% 8.10%
Japan 4.00% 1.35% 2.20% 1.35% 8.90%
New Zealand 4.50% 2.10% 2.20% 2.00% 10.80%
*Great Britain has deregulated fees completely
*US has no scale of fees but the architect at least earns 60% of the A/E fees
*The Structural Engineers use a sliding scale that varies from 2.5% to 4.5%
*For Mechanical and Electrical Services the range is from 2.2% to 4% defending on the cost of the
services in the project.
*The QS tend to use a sliding scale and these days tend to charge for project management. The
figure quoted here is about the maximum.

Exchange rate: 1ZAR= N20.27

Recommended scale of fees for Professional
Architectural Services
Cost of Project (excl VAT) Fee (excl VAT)
Cost (Base + Percentage
Bracket of Project cost)
1 R1 to R 300,000 N6,000.0000 R+ 12.50%
(N6,000,000-
2 R 300,001 to R 600,000 12,000,000) R 7,500 + 10.00%
(12,000,000-
3 R 600,001 to R 1,200,000 24,000,000) R 22,500 +7.50%
(24,000,000-
4 R 1,200,001 to R 2,400,000 48,000,000) R 25,500 + 7.25%
(48,000,000-
5 R 2,400,001 to R 4,800,000 96,000,000) R 31,500+7.00%
(96,000,000-
6 R 4,800,001 to R 9,600,000 192,000,000) R 43,500+6.75%
(192,000,000-
7 R 9,600,001 to 19,200,000 384,000,000) R67,500+6.50%
(384,000,000-
8 R 19,200,001 to R 38,400,000 768,000,000) R115,500 +6.25%
(768,000,000-
9 R38,400,001 to R 76,800,000 1,536,000,000) R211,500 + 6.00%
(1,536,000,000-
10 R 76,800,001 to R 153,600,000 3,072,000,000) R403,500 +5.75%
(3,072,000,000-
11 R 153,600,001 to R 307,200,0001 6,144,000,000) R 787,500 +5.50%
12 R 307,200,001 + (6,144,000,000 5.75%
Note: The highlighted row is where the ACAN scale starts from at 4.75% of cost Project
The NIA 1996 scale starts at 4.5% for Estimated Cost of N5.0 whilst the South African scale starts
at 12.50% for the equivalent Estimated Cost of N6.0 million

Appraisals on the fee regime

 The remuneration regime for Nigerian
architects is very low. Though the practice is
relative expensive compared to the days of
manual production of drawings, yet the fee
band has not changed.
 In appendix I attached showing schedule of

World Wide fees, Ghanaian Architects has
8.00% of the Cost of project, while Nigerian
Architects are entitled to 4.75%.
 Appendix ii also show the South African scale

is at 12.50%. The greater issue was that even
government ministries, department and
parastatals do insist on getting discount on
fees.

 An Architect earned approximate 4.75% of

construction cost over a period of 2-5 years
while an Estate Manager earns 5% of the sales
price which includes the cost of the land and
building for possibly a month’s transaction.
 The Institute needs to expedite action on the

issue of acceptable fees.
 The government should not regulate

professional fees in a deregulated economy.
 An enhanced fee will help in improving the

fortunes of Architects, both in practice and in
training which should transfer to better
delivery of duties and obligations to the client.

NEGLIGENCE IN ARCHITECTS’ DUTIES
 There is growing apathy in the level of

handling of Architects duties in many projects
in Nigeria in the last couple of decades.
 There was a time that an Architect with

Master’s degree in Architecture can only be
assigned to detailing of doors, wardrobes,
staircases and such other elemental fixtures
for over a year having been employed in any
of our flagship architectural firms.
 Those firms always emphasized on

mentorship and importance of pupillage in
training.
 Architecture has a deep tradition which has

evolved over hundreds of years.
 Effective transfer of knowledge demands

transfer of the milestones of the profession
which is possible through more contact hours
and quality studio hour interacting with
fellow students.

DEFICIENCY OF SUSTAINABILITY QUOTIENT IN

THE STUDENTS CURRICULUM
 The concept of sustainability is about two and

half decades old. The responsibility is on our
education policy makers to organize a
systemic paradigm shift in retraining the
educators of architecture.
 “One criterion for introducing sustainability

into a program is to fully integrate the subject
in in totality which requires that the complete
curriculum be reviewed and revised (James,
2003)
 Though NIA/ARCON have begun to step into

offering such opportunities through CPD
program, Architects Colloquium in Abuja, LAF
(Lagos Architects Forum of NIALSC)

DISTRACTIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO

ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION
 Advent of social media platform such as

facebook, twitter, Instagram etc has become a
huge distraction for student s generally. Many
of them are able to manage a balance
between this social platforms and there
studio sessions while a growing percentage
are merely passing there subjects without
residual knowledge and sustain passion for
the profession.

 This distraction though more emphasized now

has begun in the early 80s. Quoting from ‘In
the making of an Architect’ by our very own
Professor E. A. Adeyemi. ‘This culture of
deserted studios started surfacing in the 80’s.
It is difficult finding the reasons for this
phenomenon, but many have attributed it to
the changing fortunes of the university
system, as affected by dwindling economies
which make the student to have to fend for
himself, creating less time for his studio work’
 …In all honesty, the studio has lost its
relevance as the key integrative unit of the
School of Architecture, not only in an
educational, but also in a communal sense’

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
 Emerging professions in various fields of

human endeavor is tilting preferred course of
study to specialization in a very micro aspect
of discipline. Several courses that used to be
specialized on at Post graduate level are being
studied at undergraduate level currently.
 This is slightly creeping into Architecture.

There are universities now offering Masters
degree in Urban Design and Masters in
Landscape Architecture, without the student
having Master’s degree in Architecture.
 This makes the professional qualification of

such student long through Finals I and II
before being eligible to sit for Professional
Practice Examinations, PPE.

 Lack of Mentor/Protégé Relationship; many

students of Architecture in school have not
been able to see the relevance of Mentorship
in their professional journey.
 Many of them cannot categorically state their

understanding of basic Architecture principles
and specific practitioners who could
effectively mentor them and sharpen their
professional skills.
 This is anomaly, because every Architect that

has ever made impact in the profession, do
have a Mentor.

THE WAY FORWARD
 Bridging the ‘Town and Gown’ Interactions of

practitioners with students should encourage
Mentorship.
 It exposes student to areas of emerging

concerns in the practice which helps in
preparing them ahead and gives insight to
avoid pitfalls and to be proactive in strategy.
 Architecture is a journey of passion and a

resolve to excel in the face of several
militating factors. One of the popular cliché of
Late Tai Solarin is “may your road be rough”.
 This is no curse but an expression of

expectations of a soul determined to excel
taking all challenges in its stride.

 Most of the Architects we celebrate today

have their stories behind the success.
 There is no crown without the cross, so

students of Architecture, should seize the
opportunity of the ‘Town and Gown’ platform
to achieve a positive synergy to the general
societal advantage.
 The whole world is waiting to celebrate your

excellence, but you need to pay the price.

ENHANCED CURRICULUM;
 Studio sessions and more contact hours with

students and team work is very needful.
Architecture is team work and can never be
practiced in isolation.
 The importance of Design Studio to the

curriculum can be summarized thus;
‘The Zaria school emphasized the studio and a
student had to do his studio work and pass or be
weeded out of the course.’
 The studio has been described as a place to

share skills, develop relationships and the
tolerance of peer’s shortcomings.

In a study paper titled:

‘Towards a more Sustainable Architectural
Curriculum of Higher Institutions in Nigeria by
Dauda Ali and 2 others;
 ‘The study find out that level of awareness on

sustainability among educators was low.
Based on the findings, the study,
recommended
 the introduction of sustainability in our
curriculum,
 organization of more training programs
related to sustainability
 and revision of existing curricula to inculcate
to sustainability awareness in the minds of
future Architects’

Behavioral training and character development;
 Architecture is a noble profession and it holds

tenaciously to the tradition of integrity.
 The implication is that architectural training

cannot be achieved outside of character
building, and totality of the man behind the
scene.
 It is not a faceless profession, where the

messenger can be divorced from the message.
 The Architect savors the beauty of excellence

and its attendant rewards. On the flipside the
Architect also bear the burden of the project
team whenever there is failure.

POST OCCUPANCY EVALUATION

 This helps firms to develop relationships with
client beyond the first brief. The realization
that you take interest in the building during
the course of use opens up opportunity for
other collaborations and engagements which
may be mutually beneficial.
 The 1985 federal TARP study found customer

satisfaction is not measured on the same
scale as dissatisfaction.
 Dissatisfaction comes from quantifiable
expectations (rights)
 while Satisfaction is measured by the extent
to which people get more than they knew
enough to expect.
 It’s experiential, especially in both service and
design.

 Joel Barker, Paradigms (Harper Collins, 1992)

says excellence –quality-is no longer merely a
firm goal-that it has become the price of
admission in today’s market.
 And Dana Cuff’s working definition of design

excellence as being the quality of experiences
the project brings to all the categories of
stakeholders involved-design team, builders,
clients and users, the public, the profession.
 In essence, when you think of delivery, think

of sustainability.

EMERGING HORIZONS
 There are emerging horizons in the
engagement of Architects’ professional
services in the country today.
 The working space for Architects to operate

needs to be broadened through expression in
some other hitherto fallow grounds such has
renovation and refurbishing works.
 Also alterations and redevelopment of

existing buildings should be encouraged even
as students’ project.
 Architecture has largely been misconstrued as

an elitist profession that has no latitude for
the poor which are the larger percentage of
the populace.
 It is high time Architects open new vista

through development of practical and
effective accommodation to various strata of
human endeavor.

 Architecture should be rightly engaged as

solution provider through development and
encouragement of responsive designs to the
people without demeaning their social
standing.
 Environmental degradation issues can be

focused on. For instance, The Makoko
intervention by Architect Kunle Adeyemi is a
classical example of an Architecture that
responds to the need of the people.
 It has improved the life of the Makoko

community living on stilts while the Architect
has been honored by Cable Network News
‘CNN Ones to Watch’

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, for our Architectural practices in

Nigeria to be sustainable, there is need for us;
 to revisit the ancient landmark from the very

beginning of the practice.
 There is no future without the past. A lot of

things that used to be sacrosanct in the
training and practice of Architecture need to
be revived and ensure compliance again.
 It is of utmost importance to reposition

Architectural practice culture to meet
emerging challenges.
 The world has become a global village in the

last decade and it is becoming closer to the
touch of a button.
 Architects need to consciously support the

Nigerian Institute of Architects and participate
actively to foster a common front.

 Effective participation in the Architects’

Colloquium, Continuous Professional
Development (CPD) seminars and practice
should be encouraged.
 Architects in practice should also collaborate

with Architectural educators to improve on
areas of training co-ordination and cross
fertilization of ideas between practice and
classroom.
 ‘The need to introduce issues of sustainability

into architectural curricula has become
critically important, as the architect play a
vital role in the creation of built environment.
 It is imperative therefore, for students, who

are future architects to be aware of how their
attitudes, behavior and actions will impede
the future natural environment.
 There can be no responsible design without

responsible designer (Zalina and Mohammed,
2006).

REFERENCES;
Architect’s Professional Practice Manual by James R Franklin
(McGraw-Hill)
In the Making of an Architect…the Zaria Experience by Prof.
Ekundayo A. Adeyemi
Architects New Remuneration and Commensurate
Professional Services: The Architects Duties and the Clients’
Rights by Arc. Roti Delano FNIA, a paper delivered to the
LSCNIA
Towards a More Sustainable Architectural Curriculum of
Higher Institutions in Nigeria by Dauda Ali, Sanusi Waziri
Gumau & Ajufoh M. O.(Journal of Research
in Education and Society Vol.1)
THANK YOU!

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA:

CURRENT AND EMERGING ISSUES

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND

( A Seminar Presentation on Town and Gown for

Arc. Jegede Olabode O. mnia

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

Architectural practices are becoming endangered,

Keywords: architectural practice, sustainability,

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

The term sustainable development has become a

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

In view of this, I will like to define sustainable

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

We shall consider two pivotal definitions on

A. “Sustainable development is maintaining

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

B. World Commission on Environment and

The above two established definitions has

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 The first definition emphasized on the well-

 The second definition graphically shows that

 Figure two explained graphically that there

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 These three scenarios shall be summarized

 SCENE ONE: A practice that connects only

 SCENE TWO: A practice that connects SOCIAL

 SCENE THREE: A practice that connects

“All definitions of sustainable development

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

“When you think of the world as a system over

 Thinking of the world as a system over space

 This is an allegory to the fact that Nigerians

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

“And when you think of the world as a system

 In simple terms, our poor handling of briefs

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

CURRENT ISSUES IN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

 The practice of Architecture in Nigeria today is

 This can largely be traced to issues of poor

 The consequence of this is poor project

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 We cannot completely exonerate Architects

 However, to every project abandoned by a

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 This is a relatively small percentage of the

 The fee quotient is always very minimal in

 The situation gets so bad that the right level

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 The project and the client becomes the

 This is a non-sustainable development. It

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

APPENDIX - SCHEDULE OF WORLD WIDE

Structural M&E QS/Cost Total

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

Exchange rate: 1ZAR= N20.27

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

Appraisals on the fee regime

 In appendix I attached showing schedule of

 Appendix ii also show the South African scale

By Arc. Jegede Olabode O.mnia (archiworth@gmail.com)

 An Architect earned approximate 4.75% of

 The Institute needs to expedite action on the

 The government should not regulate