Gbenro Adesina
An Architect and lecturer at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Dr Yinka Gbotosho has urged architects to embrace the use of technology for efficiency and productivity as well as scaling up to meet international best practice.
Gbotosho, who stated this at the 2021 Annual General Meeting and product exhibition of the Nigeria Institute of Architects, Oyo State chapter attended by Architect Muyiwa Ige and Adenike Olugbesan, among others stressed, “An Architect that will remain relevant needs to build both personal and corporate competence in handling current and competitive tools and processes”.
Urging architects to reduce physical contact while discharging their duties so as to avoid contracting Coronavirus, the don argued that the advent of Covid-19, which has significantly affected the entire world has brought a new dimension to the practice of the profession.
He described the use of drawing board, T-Square and similar tools as obsolete in the face of new technological advancement and posited that the use of interactive online platforms such as Skype, Microsoft Teams, Google classroom, Google Meet among others have proven to be very effective in the teaching and practice environment.
According to him, “There is need to be open minded in readiness to embrace new order of doing things based on current and future technological advancement”.
The University don further urged architects and other stakeholders in the building profession to embrace the use of Computer Aided Design and Manufacture (CAD/CAM) and BIM Building Information Management (BIM) softwares to enhance project delivery as well as improving the quality of the work from early- stage design to construction.
In the same direction, Professor Olu Ola Ogunsote pointed out the significance of adopting technology in teaching architectural students.
Lamenting the outdatedness of some architectural studios used in training the students in the Nigerian tertiary institutions, Ogunsote urged the Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Nigeria University Commission (NUC) and other relevant stakeholders to be more proactive in order to reduce the conspicuous imbalance being experienced in the practice and teaching environments.
