ARCON may sanction schools running unaccredited architectureprogrammes

The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria has called on all higher institutions of learning in the country running architecture programmes without accreditation to desist from such practice.

It also expressed its willingness to enter into a partnership deal with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to boost architecture in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the council, the President, Dipo Ajayi, gave the warning last week during the 13th colloquium post-press briefing in Lagos.

Ajayi stated that despite the COVID-19 challenge, the council had not failed in carrying out due accreditations of schools across the country.

He, however, bemoaned that some persons were still circumventing the process of validation for their programmes on architecture.

“On this note, it would be imperative that I mention that the council requires that universities and polytechnics graduating students in architecture ensure that their programmes are duly accredited by the council.

“This cannot be taken for granted as there is no place for graduates of unaccredited programmes within the profession to practice.

“The council will not hesitate to wield the big stick within the ambit of the law on such institutions going forward,” Ajayi said.

He said irrespective of other validations obtained by such schools from other agencies of government, no programme on architecture should be run without ARCON approval and accreditation.

Ajayi added that the council may soon publish names of accredited schools of architecture in the country.

He called on the government to initiate the framework and drive the mechanism to reconfigure, reimagine and retrofit existing housing stock as well as initiate new post-COVID-19 standardised housing for the public.