The newly elected President of the Nigerian Institute Of Architects, Enyi Ben- Eboh, has called on architects to devise solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the impact of both issues had affected virtually every facet of lives including education, residence, recreation, work environment and social interaction.

Ben-Eboh who spoke at the 61st Annual General Meeting And Conference of the institute, said there was a need to carry out a critical examination of the effectiveness of technology in the way architects ply their trade and the impact it would have on the way spaces are perceived and utilised.

He said, “There is a need for architects in Nigeria to embrace the new golden opportunity to do a self appraisal in last 61 years, remembering that challenges would come that would sometimes shake the very foundation of our values and everything we hold but in our true spirit as solution provider, we must close ranks to confront the adversaries.”

In his address, the immediate past President of the institute, Sonny Echono, said the institute had seized the opportunity to re -introduce itself to stakeholders across the nation which according t him outlines the core plank of his administration’s focus.

Echono said, “The institute has engaged with the government at all levels, advocating to drive home the value of architects and good architecture in the larger society as well as reforms to our architectural education curriculum to meet emerging challenges and lastly the sponsorship of bills at the National Assembly as well as several governor’s across the nation.”