Kehinde Ishola
The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), on Sunday, November 30, 2025, raised the alarm over the growing presence of unlicensed practitioners in the built environment, warning that such activities pose serious risks to public safety and structural integrity.
The Institute disclosed that architecture contributes about six per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), valued at approximately N6.17 trillion annually.
Outgoing NIA President, Mobolaji Adeniyi, made the disclosure at the 65th Biennial General Assembly Meeting, Conference, Exhibition and Election of new leaders of the Institute.
She emphasised the central role of architecture in national development and infrastructure growth, describing the profession as a major global economic driver.
“Architecture contributes to six per cent of the GDP, which is about N6.17 trillion. There is no developing nation that does not depend on its architects. All over the world, architecture drives the economy. Take Dubai for instance — architecture drives tourism, and tourism drives the economy,” she said.
Adeniyi noted that beyond revenue generation, the profession creates widespread employment opportunities, especially for artisans across the construction value chain.
She also linked the recurring incidents of building collapse in the country to weak regulation and the use of unqualified personnel, stressing that the engagement of licensed architects is critical to preventing such disasters.
“One of the first things is ensuring that only registered architects are employed and used on projects. When a registered architect heads a building project team, there will be no compromise that could lead to building collapse,” she said.
Incoming NIA President, Sani Saulawa, reinforced her position, stating that the Institute has no record of building collapse involving its certified members.
He warned against unauthorised individuals who venture into architecture purely for financial gain without professional training.
“They don’t have any background in the built environment professions, but because they see it as an avenue to make money, they dabble into it without knowing the codes, rules and regulations. That must stop,” Saulawa said.
He added that preliminary investigations into most collapsed buildings show that registered architects were not involved.
“To the best of our knowledge, none of the sister professional bodies has reported that their members were implicated,” he noted.
The Institute’s leadership pledged to intensify public awareness, promote professional ethics and strengthen regulatory oversight to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s built environment.