The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has charged prospective architects to reposition themselves for the industry by learning new skills and utilizing technology.
NIA President, Enyi Ben-Eboh, gave the charge during a webinar, entitled: “The Architectural Practice in Nigeria: Students Repositioning and Responsibility- Raising the Next Generation of Starchitects.” He said technology will largely drive innovation and architecture in the next generation, urging the students to get abreast of the latest technology and be part of the process.
According to him, mastery of Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Technology and others will go a long way in getting them ready for the world of practice.
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The NIA president challenged the young architects to learn and get familiar with architecture laws and regulations that guide professional practice, as well as information and happenings within the professional practice. He argued that as an architect, the value system outside architecture school is vastly based on the knowledge acquired, hence the need to keep learning and growing.
He said: “Having a unique process to apply your knowledge gives you an edge over others. You have what it takes as an architecture student to take the world by storm. You are the future, put yourself out. That is why we are engaging, equipping and preparing you for life outside school. You need essential skills outside of architecture from project management to tech skills to business skills. You need these skills to be able to approach architecture from a different perspective.”
The architects’ boss told the students that solving problems is what makes people wealthy, adding that architects belong to a very disruptive idea where innovations are happening sporadically.
He said: “You don’t have to wait for the grand project to make an impact. Right where you are, start from there; solve problems within our local built environment. That is the path of a starchitect.”
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SOURCE: Guardianng
