From Drafting Desk to Public Trust – Who Should Design Nigeria’s Buildings
Not every building collapses because of cement. Some fall because of ego, ignorance, and illegal hands.
In a country where titles are often worn like fashion, “Architect” is one title that must be earned – not assumed. In a world of collapsing buildings, dodgy “plan drawers,” and unregulated design, the word Architect must not be treated lightly. And neither should we ignore the technical cadre – the trained professionals who don’t bear the title Architect, yet serve as the technical backbone of the profession.
So, the big question is: “Who gets licensed in the field of architecture in Nigeria – and how?”
🧭 Two Distinct, Recognized Career Tracks
In Nigeria, the pathway to recognized architectural practice flows in two main streams:
- 🧱 The Architect: Design-oriented, theory-heavy, and registered as “Architect”
- 🛠 The Architectural Technologist: Technically skilled, detail-oriented, and registered as “Technologist”
Both roles are regulated by ARCON, the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria.
Both are essential.
Both are respected.
Now, let’s unpack the journey – from drawing board to license.
1. University Path: Becoming a Registered Architect
This path is for those who:
- Enrolled in a recognized university offering an accredited Architecture programme
- Complete a 4/5-year Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (B.Sc., B.Tech.)
- Attain Stage 1 Provisional Registration with ARCON
- Proceed to a 2-year Master’s in Architecture (MSc., M.Tech)
- Upgrade your registration to Stage 2 Provisional Registration with ARCON
- Undergo 2 years minimum of mandatory post-graduation practical training under a registered architect or licensed firm
- Get exposed to live projects, documentation, site supervision, client meetings, contracts, and construction processes
- Record your experience via building portfolios and reports – a habit that builds professional discipline
- Sit for the Professional Practice Competence Examination (PPCE). Among other things, the exam tests your ability to:
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- Understand building laws, contracts, and regulations
- Navigate ethics and professional responsibility
- Manage practice, procurement, and construction processes
- Apply critical thinking to real-world architectural dilemmas
- Apply for and receive ARCON registration as Architect. This grants you:
- The legal right to use the title Architect before your name
- Inclusion in the official Register of Architects
- The ability to open and run an architectural firm
- The authority to stamp and seal drawings submitted for building approvals
🔍 Note: Only programmes accredited by ARCON count. A foreign degree must be verified for equivalence.
This academic phase is not just about drawings – it builds grounding in:
- Design theory
- History of architecture
- Structures and construction
- Building materials
- Environmental control systems
- Ethics and professional practice
- Industrial Training (IT)
🧠 Outcome:
Title: Architect [Name]
Legal Scope: Independent practice, project leadership, design authorship, approvals, and stamps.
2. Polytechnic Path: Becoming a Registered Architectural Technologist
This pathway equips you to be the master of technical precision – the detailer, the draughtsman, the builder’s guide.
This path is for professionals who:
- Enrolled in a recognized polytechnic offering an accredited Architecture programme
- Obtain a National Diploma (ND) in Architecture (2 years)
- Apply for and receive ARCON registration as Architectural Technician
- Proceed to a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Architecture (2 years)
- Undergo mandatory industrial training and post-HND experience
- Apply for and receive ARCON registration as Architectural Technologist
The polytechnic curriculum builds grounding in:
- Architectural Drafting and CAD Techniques
- Building Construction Technology
- Architectural Design Fundamentals
- Structural Principles and Load Paths
- Services Integration
- Quantities and Estimation
- Professional Practice and Communication
- Industrial Training (IT)
🛠 Outcome:
Title: Architectural Technologist [Name]
Legal Scope: Supervised design contributions, detailing, working drawings, technical documentation, and project support under a registered architect.
🎓 Why Both Pathways Matter
Let’s be practical.
On any functional project site, the Architect and the Technologist must work together.
The architect leads the vision, integrates the disciplines, and liaises with clients.
The technologist brings the precision, the technical coordination, and the drawing board stamina.
It’s not a hierarchy; It’s a partnership.
🧱 ARCON: One Regulator, Multiple Roles
ARCON regulates both professionals, maintaining separate registers and licensing processes.
ARCON exists to:
- Uphold standards of training and ethics
- Conduct and oversee PPCE
- Maintain the national register of Architects, Technologists, and Firms
- Ensure that both tiers of practice are legal, competent, and accountable
- Fight against quackery and unsafe design practices
So, whether you’re aiming for the drafting table or the design boardroom – you need ARCON’s recognition to practice legitimately. ARCON licensure is not just a status; it’s a social contract. You are now accountable to the profession, the public, and the law.
🧠 Why the Public Should Care
Would you board a flight with an unlicensed pilot?
Would you take surgery advice from someone with no medical training?
Why then do we keep building homes, schools, and public buildings using unlicensed hands?
The difference between a safe, functional building and a tragedy waiting to happen is often a registered professional.
🔁 Continuous Development: Licensure Is Just the Start
Even after registration, an architect’s learning journey never ends.
ARCON require architects to engage in Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) through:
- Workshops and seminars
- Research and teaching
- Mentorship
- Technology and code updates
Why?
Because the built environment keeps evolving – and so must its designers.
Both Architects and Technologists are therefore required to engage in:
- Mandatory CPD (Continuous Professional Development)
- Ethics renewal
- Practice updates on laws, codes, and materials
Because no matter which path you took, you owe it to the public to stay current.
✅ Conclusion: Two Streams, One Destination — Competence and Integrity
The architectural profession in Nigeria is not one-size-fits-all.
We must respect and promote both streams – the Architects who lead, and the Technologists who build the bridge between vision and reality.
So if you’re:
- A young ND or HND graduate – your path is valid
- A university-trained Master’s degree holder – your title must be earned
- A practitioner in either space – your license must be current
- A client – you have a right to ask for ARCON-registered professionals
Because when everyone plays their part within the law, buildings don’t just rise — they last.
Architects dream. Technologists define. Together, they deliver.
Nigeria doesn’t just need buildings – it needs safe, lawful, enduring places. That only happens when trained professionals, licensed by ARCON, are in charge.
Whether you’re holding a T-square or running a site meeting, the badge of licensure is not just about pride – it’s about public safety, professional credibility, and national development.
In the end, it’s not just how we build, but who is building that truly matters.