The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), in collaboration with the Ife Architecture Students’ Association (IFASA), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and Design Genre Limited, has announced a nationwide architectural design competition to celebrate Anthony Okoye, a renowned Nigerian architect and Founder/Managing Director of Design Genre Limited, as he marks his 60th birthday.

The contest seeks to inspire architecture students across Nigeria to propose bold, sustainable, and replicable design ideas that address the complexities of urban living.

Participants are expected to demonstrate creativity, conceptual strength, and an understanding of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The competition invites undergraduate and postgraduate architecture students from Nigerian universities to reimagine urban blocks in cities like Ebute Metta in Lagos, Jabbi in Abuja, among others.

Entries should demonstrate green design principles, tackle urban congestion, and propose replicable models for urban renewal. Registration is free via [email protected], and each team must include at least one Urban and Regional Planning student. Submissions must include two A1 design panels in PDF format and a 1,000–1,500-word project report explaining design concepts, challenges addressed, and sustainable approaches.

Registration opens on October 25 and the competition will run in two stages—regional and national—with regional winners advancing to the final stage for jury deliberation between December 6 and 10, 2025. The deadline for the regional submission is November 30. Winners will be announced during the NIA First Quarterly Dinner in 2026. National prizes include N650,000, N450,000, and N250,000 for the first, second, and third places, respectively, with certificates and publications, while regional winners will receive cash prizes and certificates.

Chairman, NIA Architectural Competitions and Exhibitions Committee, Dr Agha-Ejimole Okereke, who spoke on the collaboration, said: “This initiative is more than a contest; it’s a platform to nurture the creative minds that will redefine the future of Nigerian cities. Through this initiative, NIA, Design Genre, and IFASA reaffirm their shared commitment to inspiring a new generation of architects to build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments while honouring the legacy of Okoye, whose life and work embody the ideals of modern architecture.

In his remark, IFASA President John Ojo, described the competition as both a celebration of Okoye’s milestone and a tribute to his enduring contribution to the growth of architectural education in Nigeria.