Architects canvass funding for start-ups in construction

To increase the rate and speed of development in Nigeria, the President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Arc. Dipo Ajayi, has called on the government to make available start-up funds for young creative architects to start their own companies.

Ajayi made the call in Lagos during a chat with some journalists to mark his 67th birthday. He also called for improved support for the profession of architecture in the country.

He said the proposed fund should be accessed through the Bank of Infrastructure, formerly known as Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, in collaboration with companies, construction agencies, the government and private individuals that are interested in funding start-ups in the construction industry.

Ajayi said: “The accessibility of start-up grants for young architects would increase the number of indigenous firms which would not only aid in the socio-economic development of the country but also help to achieve the local content requirements, which are policies imposed by governments that require firms to use domestically-manufactured goods or domestically-supplied services to operate in an economy.

“With the shift in the dynamics of the construction industry, the traditional mode of starting an architectural firm is not sufficient for the built environment and the young professionals in the building industry to make an impact through the merging of technology and construction.

“To achieve this, the start-up path offers a way to have a potentially bigger impact. It also helps in collaboration between the professionals in the building industry and the information technology industry.”