The Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) was founded in Lagos on 1st April 1960, barely six months before Nigeria attained Independence from United Kingdom. Initially called the Nigerian of Architects with only thirteen members at the time of its formal inauguration at the premises of the National House of Representatives, the professional organization had emerged from a modest beginning of an 8-member Study Group of Architects which was formed in the 1958 to carry out the detailed planning for the establishment of the Institute.
The fact that Lagos was for many years the capital of Nigeria attracted a lot of commercial activities and the Federal and State Government had huge investments in infrastructure in the city. It is no surprise therefore that a very large percentage of Members of the Institute both in Government Services and the Private Sector operated in Lagos and this accounted for the chapter being the most vibrant with the largest concentrations of Architects in Lagos. Officers of the Institute were predominantly those who practiced from Lagos and in course of time it became expedient to create State Chapters from which Lagos State Chapter benefited in size and quality.
Since the inauguration of the NIA in 1960 and the creation of Lagos State in 1967, the Lagos State Chapter had functioned in the shadow of the main body. With increase in membership and the creation of States, it became expedient to decentralize the activities of the main body and thus in 1983, Dr. Wale Odeleye, then 2nd Vice president of the Institute was mandated by Council to assist in reviving the Lagos State Chapter. He became the Co-chairman assisted by his many younger colleagues who served in the executive at its maiden meeting venue at Art’s Place, Alagomeji, Yaba. Attendance by Architects who were resident in Lagos was usually high and programmes were designed to benefit members professionally and socially.
The Chapters also took on programmes of public interest and marked its activities among building materials suppliers and manufacturers who always wanted to market their products among architects. Such public activities by the Chapter included a “Building Maintenance Management Seminar at the Sheraton Hotel on 7&8 November 1985 in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the NIA; the following year on Thursday 11 September 1986, at the same venue, the chapter held another seminar titled “The impact of the second-Tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) on the Construction Industry”. At a dinner in October 1988, Dr. (Mrs) Aribisala, the then the Director General of Raw Materials Development and Research Council was the guest Speaker. Professor Wole Soyinka gave a lecture titled “New Building of the Old” as Guest of the Chapter at its post AGM luncheon on Thursday, 11 July 1991, an occasion when plaques were given to past officers, the editor of the Guardian newspaper and its pioneer correspondent on properties Mr. Paul Okunlola. Tours were conducted for Chapter Members and Students to factories of building products including Agbara Estate, and Guest Speakers were invited occasionally to our regular monthly meetings.
The Architects in Focus was the Chapter’s Public Enlightenment Programme to honour senior colleagues whose profile provided inspiration for the younger ones. Arc. M.K. Alusi, FNIA was the first Architect in the series (2nd May 1989); others were Arc. Deji Oyenuga, FNIA (25th October 1989), Professor John Godwin (24th May 1990) and Arc. Layi Balogun (24th October 1996). The Executive Committee of the Chapter would select the Architect whose work would be exhibited at no cost to him/her and s/ he would be the Guest of the Day whens/ he will address the public on his life and career as an architect. The programme was always rounded up with a cocktail and presentation of a plaque to the Architect in Focus. In 1985, the Chapter initiated 2-week Lectures to prepare members for the NIA Professional practice Examinations (NIAPPE).
The programme became very popular and it attracted colleagues outside Lagos and the results over the years were most encouraging. On 1st December 1990, a family picnic held at Mayiegun Beach for members and their families and there was a lot to eat and to drink because the policy was that each member brought enough for his/her family and extra for another family. Since the revival of Lagos State Chapter in 1983, succeeding generations have kept the flag of the Institute flying in Lagos State.
