WHEN ARCHITECTS GATHERED – The Benue State Edition.

 

Recently, the agrarian state located in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, popularly referred to as “The Food Basket of the Nation” due to its prodigious production of food crops played host to different cadres of architects from all parts the country and other neighbouring countries including the Niger Republic. And no, it wasn’t a conference to discuss food security or any such related issue! This time it was the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) which held from the 22^nd – 27^th of November in Markurdi, the state capital of Benue State.  

RAMMED EARTH ROYALTY - Traditional Architecture of the Great Benin Kingdom

Sketch of Benin City by British Officer 1897.
Image credit: www.guardian.com

Come with me on a journey down memory lane! Around 2002/2003, in post-graduate architecture school at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma - Edo State, our class was split into teams for an assignment on traditional architecture. I and my teammate (who just happens to be my life partner and husband- insert a coy smile😀) were tasked with the documentation and production of measured drawings for a building constructed with traditional building materials and techniques.

SERENDIPITY

Also defined as the the occurrence of unplanned fortunate discovery, serendipity is a fairly normal occurrence in the creative world.  Here's an account of one of mine. 

Window seats are my default position when travelling solo by air or land. In the vehicle, I love to see the buildings and greenery zipping past. The rooftops that come into view on the plane's ascent or descent fills me with such joy.

Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna: COVID-19 AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: FUTURE DESIGN TRENDS IN THE NIGERIAN AEC INDUSTRY

Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna FNIA writes in from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Also a qualified estate surveyor, she is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects where she currently serves a second term as its National Chair, Public Relations Committee.

In this blog's inaugural guest post, she shares her thoughts on a broad spectrum of changes one can expect in the Nigerian built environment industry post Covid-19.

Photocredit: Author

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 was devastating leaving in its trails millions of death and a severely depressed economy worldwide. 102 years after that bad experience is the corona virus (code named COVID – 19) pandemic, presently ravaging lives and economies the world over with Nigeria’s first index case reported on 27^th of February 2020.

According to medical researchers, contamination has been ascribed to bodily contact with infected persons (symptomatic or asymptomatic) as well as the touching of infected surfaces which includes money.

Architecture Beyond Borders - Life Pre Covid - 19

In November 2019, the NIA Abuja Chapter played host to the duo of William Bates (2019 President of the American Institute of Architects AIA) and Sam Oboh,(2015 President of Royal Architectural Institute of Canada RAIC). An interesting incident transpired during the auspicious occasion of their visit.

WELCOME TO 2020!

As I thought of a befitting New Year message, the words of a popular yet deep Irish prayer/blessing came to mind. This is my paraphrased version.

"May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And rains fall soft upon your fields
...May God hold us in the palm of His hand in this year & beyond.Amen".

I bid you all a heartfelt welcome to 2020, the start of a new decade. Strap on your seat-belts, it promises to be an exciting and memorable ride.😍😍

Happy New Year! 

Photocredit: Google Images

THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM BENIN CITY AND THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM

“I hope there’s nothing wrong” she asked in concern from the other end of the line.

“Should there be?” I enquired in half bemusement as I silently pleaded with the female guide with my eyes for patience. 

Continuing, I responded, “Everything’s fine. I just decided it was high time I visited because it’s something I’ve been wanting to do”.

My sister let out a chuckle from the other end of the phone and went on to explain, 

“This one wey you dey visit there na im make me ask because I know say person no just dey wake up visit museum for Nigeria!”

Aha! Imagine that! A huge grin slowly enveloped my face as the realization of the cause of her question hit me.

“You know it’s the same thing I wondered” quipped the museum guide who must have gotten the gist of our conversation by the time I had exchanged pleasantries and hung up the phone. 

“Usually, most of our Nigerian visitors are those based outside the country, usually in the company of their children who are curious about their heritage”, she went on to add. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for belonging to what it seems is a league of extraordinary home-based Nigerians. (Insert smug face)!