UNILAG Unveils Faculty of Architecture, Hosts Inaugural Roundtable on Urban Resilience

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, formally unveiled its newly inaugurated Faculty of Architecture with a landmark event – the inaugural Architecture Roundtable Talk – which set the stage for a bold new era in design education and practice.

The Faculty, which houses the pioneering Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, is trailblazing a holistic curriculum that integrates urban form, interior architecture, and ecological design, with a focus on resilience and sustainability.

Themed “Designing Resilient Cities: Integrating Landscape and Urban Form for a Sustainable Future,” the roundtable brought together educators, policymakers, and design professionals, including the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi, to chart a vision for resilient and culturally grounded African cities.

In her remarks, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, urged participants to situate design within the African narrative by embracing cultural resonance, shared heritage, and ecological integrity. She challenged the Faculty to advance an architecture that empowers communities, reinforces identity, and transforms the built environment.

Acting Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, Dr. Nnezi Olugu, described the moment as historic. She noted that the integration of landscape, urban, and interior architecture under one faculty fills a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s design education and marks a turning point for architectural practice.

Delivering the keynote address, NIA President Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi underscored resilience as an imperative, not a luxury. Citing Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation from 15% in 1960 to 54% in 2022.