The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has unfolded a strategic framework for the operationalisation of the School of Architectural Technicians, Kuje, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The initiative made possible through the approval of a collaboration between Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and ARCON by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, is an offshoot of the Bola Tinubu administration goal to inspire a national rebirth across sectors, prioritising skill, youth empowerment, and professional excellence.
Currently, ARCON has initiated the registration process with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to formally enlist the centre under Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheme.
Further bolstering these efforts, ARCON is fostering grassroots collaborations with the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and discussions are ongoing for the sponsorships for local government staff to benefit from the Kuje Centre’s training opportunities, as well as proposals for embedding architects within the structures of all 774 local councils to deepen professional practice nationwide.
As part of operational fortification, security enhancement measures are being developed to ensure the safety of all participants, facilitators, and visitors at the centre.
ARCON President, Dipo Ajayi, lauded the minister’s commitment to professional development and practical capacity-building that paved the way for the School of Architectural Technician to evolve into a national hub for skill acquisition, technical education, and innovation in the built environment.
Among programmes planned for the centre is a three-week Summer Skill Acquisition Camp, targeting Primary four–six, as well as JSS one–three pupils, which aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to integrate practical skills into early education.
There is also an artisan certification programme in masonry, plumbing, tiling, floor finishes, painting, Plaster of Paris (POP), and electrical installation, as well as strategic partnerships with organisations for industry-standard certifications.
Ajayi said ARCON remains steadfast in its resolve to support the ministry’s vision and build a nation where technical competence meets global excellence, where opportunities are democratised, and where the architecture and construction industries serve as true engines of national development.
