The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has launched its summer skills acquisition camp to equip secondary school students with hands-on training in masonry, plumbing, tiling, painting, and interior design at the School of Architectural Technicians Scheme (SATS) in Abuja.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is aimed at nurturing the next generation of builders, designers, and artisans. It seeks to bridge the country’s skills gap by introducing young participants to structured, practical learning, blending creativity with technical competence.
Declaring the camp open, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, represented by the Director and Head of Public Buildings and Housing Development, Pemi Temitope, commended ARCON for the initiative.
“We are investing in the future workforce of Nigeria,” he said. “The true foundation of national development is not merely in bricks and mortar, but in the hands that mould them, the minds that design them, and the skills that sustain them.”
Dangiwa disclosed that the Federal Government’s recent introduction of 15 compulsory skills into basic education is a strategic response to the widening skills gap. “It is a declaration that every Nigerian child must be equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but with practical, employable skills that foster self-reliance and national productivity,” he added.
ARCON President, Dr Dipo Ajayi, described the camp as a landmark moment for the built environment sector. He pledged to replicate the initiative across all geopolitical zones in the country.
“While this camp may seem like a small step as a pioneer edition, it is a giant leap towards making skill acquisition a mainstream component of our educational and professional development landscape,” Ajayi said. “Our vision is for this centre to evolve into a hub of excellence, where hard and soft skills are built, relevant research conducted, and cross-fertilisation of ideas thrives to advance Nigeria’s built environment.”
In his closing remarks, Mohammed Sule, noted that ARCON was proud to align with the national agenda of equipping young Nigerians with relevant vocational skills. “Through this initiative, we are sowing seeds that will empower the next generation of professionals, innovators, and responsible citizens,” he said.
