On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) unveiled its newly established Faculty of Architecture during a flagship Architecture Roundtable Talk—a flagship event marking a “monumental shift in Nigeria’s architectural and design landscape.”
This bold academic restructuring brings together Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, Interior Architecture and Design, and traditional Architecture under one dynamic faculty. Indeed a milestone in multidisciplinary design education.
Designing my Resilient Cities: The Roundtable’s Vision
Held under the theme “Designing Resilient Cities: Integrating Landscape and Urban Form for a Sustainable Future.” The roundtable convened educators, policymakers, and design professionals to reimagine architecture’s role in shaping sustainable, culturally resonant cities.
UNILAG’s Leadership Speaks
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola called on attendees to root design in the African narrative. She emphasized that design should encompass “cultural resonance, shared heritage, and ecological integrity.” She challenged the faculty to develop an architecture that reflects “identity, place, and continuum.” Stressing that “design should be a tool of empowerment, transformation, and rooted relevance.”
Dr. Nnezi Olugu, Acting Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, hailed the occasion as historic and ground-breaking. Noting that the development addresses a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s design education landscape. Which represents “a turning point in how architecture is taught and practised.”
Resilience Reimagined: Professional Insight
Architectural Resilience as Imperative
In her keynote, Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi, President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), reframed resilience as an imperative, not a luxury. She highlighted Nigeria’s urbanization. Starting from 15% in 1960 to 54% in 2022, with projections nearing 70% by 2050. With global trends of over 55% living in cities, expected to reach 68% by mid-century.
She asserted that resilience lies in a city’s ability to withstand shocks while preserving spatial structures, community cohesion, and vital services. Speaking further she said “Design must fortify urban systems, absorb stress, and safeguard inclusivity.”
Landscape Architecture: A Strategic Ally
Dr. Amos Atumye Alao, President of the Society of Landscape Architecture of Nigeria (SLAN), lauded UNILAG’s pioneering decision. The decision to integrate landscape architecture into its academic system. Dr. Amos reaffirmed SLAN’s commitment to supporting the new department in alignment with global standards and professional best practices.
A Discipline Finally Recognized
In a broader reflection, SLAN’s viewpoint, echoed by Dr. Alao, marks the inauguration as the long-awaited recognition of Landscape Architecture within Nigerian academia—historic in that it brings “a discipline that had been shut out of the university system finally tak[ing] its rightful place.”
A Strategic Blueprint for the Future
This institutional reconfiguration—from unbundling existing faculties to forming the Architecture Faculty—is part of UNILAG’s wider academic overhaul. Earlier on August 1, 2025, the university announced the creation of eight new faculties (including Architecture, Communication & Media Studies, Computing & Informatics, and others), expanding from 12 to 19 faculties to better align with a dynamic, evolving educational landscape.
Conclusion
By inaugurating the Faculty of Architecture; uniting architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture; UNILAG has not only expanded its academic offerings; it has positioned itself at the forefront of innovation in built-environment education. Through its focus on resilience, cultural relevance, and ecological intelligence, UNILAG sets an inspiring precedent. Namely; an educational structure poised to empower future generations of architects, designers, and urban planners to craft sustainable, inclusive, and identity-rich cities.
Are a student of UNILAG? Feel free to share your thoughts on this newly established faculty in the comments section.