Lanre Olusola
David Majekodunmi
INTRODUCTION
The American Institute of Architects International Region Nigeria has been engaged in several activities in the last quarter of the year. Some of these activities have been local (within the country), while others have been international albeit online.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The core responsibilities of the Country Representatives are to:
Serve AIA Members in the territory, maintain regular contact with AIA members in the country through meetings, newsletters, phone calls, webinars, emails etc.
Organize regular events for the purposes of creating interaction between AIA members, as well as with other allied professional groups in the country.
Maintain liaison and cooperation with allied professional groups and licensing organizations in the country and create a collaborative environment that is beneficial to all parties.
MEMBERSHIP
The AIA International Region Nigeria has on its membership database upward of 70 architects of mostly International Associates membership category, out of the over 900 members who are not assigned to any AIA chapters within the AIA International Region. The Country Representatives discovered, while collating the members database, some listed members have incomplete contact details such as phone numbers, email and physical addresses.
All members of the AIA IR Nigeria are also members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA).
EVENTS
A World Architecture Day Webinar was held on October 5th with the President of UIA, Thomas Vonier as one of the Moderators and participation from many members of AIA IR Nigeria.
In collaboration with the Canadian Urban Institute, the UIA’s Canadian national section, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) organized a conference on the Role of Architecture in the time of COVID-19 & Urban Recovery, held on October 7th with Former President Sam Oboh as one of the panellists. This was also well attended by many AIA IR Nigeria members.
The Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACAN) held a 3-Parts Webinar Series on Fire Safety in Building Construction from October 15 with guest speakers from the UK and the USA such as Terry Schultz, Michael Alley etc, which was also well attended by AIA IR Nigeria members.
The AIA IR 2020 Virtual Conference: Catalyzing Change was held online between 17-21 October which had a resounding participation from AIA IR Nigeria members. Country Representative, Lanre Olusola was drafted as a panellist on one of the events during the Conference. The Conference also featured the Annual General Meeting of AIA IR which was well attended by members of AIA IR Nigeria.
Finally, members of AIA IR Nigeria, who are equally members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), joined their colleagues in organizing and participating in the NIA AGM 2020 and the celebration of NIA@60. The 4-days event took place in Makurdi, Benue State from 25-28 October and featured speakers and participants such as the Governor of Benue State, HE Dr. Samuel Ortom; President of UIA, Thomas Vonier; President of AUA, Victor Leonel Miguel; Presidents of Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) and National Order of Architects in Chad (ONAT), Barry Johns from Canada; OPA Ladega from Lagos Nigeria and many other local professionals from the public, academic and private sectors.
INFORMATION/ COMMUNICATION
The AIA IR Nigeria opened a social media (WhatsApp) platform through which information and communication network is maintained with members who make use of the application. Through this medium, up-coming events of the AIA IR and other relevant organs on architecture were circulated, such as:
Update on list of members with missing contact details
Invitation from the Commonwealth Secretariat for celebration of #YouthWorkWeek from 2 to 6 November.
2020 AIA ME Design Awards: Call for entries
Invitation to participate in the UN-HABITAT Urban Thinkers Campus webinar on October 24.
Invitation to members to join in the NIA Architects Town Hall weekly online lectures
Invitation to members to participate in the World Architecture Festival WAF Virtual Conference 30 November - 4 December.
Invitation to members to register for the AIA IR Virtual Conference held 17-21 November.
Pandemic Prognostication – A Common Sense Approach to Senior Living Design.
Wood Expo Nigeria organized their 2nd Annual Conference: Timber, a Timeless Building Material: Understanding its Versatility. November 19
The AIA IR Nigeria Country Representative 2, David Majekodunmi was elected Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). November 5
The 13th edition of the International Architecture Biennale in Sao Paolo, Brazil was announced.
Daily proceedings of the AIA IR Virtual Conference 2020 was well broadcast.
ATO Architects 8th Annual Lecture: Collaborate To Win, 9 December was also announced.
Lanre Olusola FNIA, FNIM, Int’l Assoc. AIA
Country Representative - Nigeria, AIA IR
David Majekodunmi MNIA, Int’l Assoc. AIA
Country Representative - Nigeria, AIA IR
