The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Kogi State Chapter, has called for practical action to address Nigeria’s housing challenges, urging professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to promote affordable housing and greater use of indigenous building materials.

The call was made at the 2026 World Architecture Day and Annual General Meeting of the NIA, Kogi State Chapter, where stakeholders examined ways of translating the recognition of housing as a human right into practical housing solutions.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Arc. Kayode Oloninisi, Ph.D, FNIA, said the theme of the celebration, “Housing is a Human Right. Build It,” provided an opportunity for architects and other built-environment professionals to move beyond discussions and focus on solutions that could deliver decent, affordable and accessible homes to Nigerians.

Oloninisi, who was represented at the event by Associate Professor Okwenya Sunday, Head of the Department of Architecture at the Federal University Lokoja, said adequate housing was fundamental to human welfare and national development.

He noted that housing, alongside food and clothing, remained one of the basic needs of humanity, providing physical protection while also contributing to health, dignity, emotional security and overall wellbeing.

According to him, the theme adopted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) also reinforces the recognition of adequate housing under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Oloninisi commended the Kogi State Chapter of the NIA for designing a programme that examined practical architectural, planning, financing and policy approaches to the housing challenges facing residents of the state.

He also praised the chapter for bringing together professionals to examine the theme from different perspectives and encouraged participants to use the event to strengthen professional development, networking and collaboration within the built environment.

Architects push indigenous building materials

The call for practical action was reinforced by the Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the NIA, Arc. John O. Attah, MNIA.

Attah said the chapter deliberately selected the theme, “Exploiting Indigenous Building Techniques and Materials as a Sustainable Solution to our Housing Deficit,” to draw attention to the potential of locally available resources in addressing Nigeria’s housing shortage.

He argued that Nigeria could no longer afford excessive dependence on imported building materials while millions of Nigerians continued to face difficulties accessing affordable housing.

According to him, the country has abundant raw materials that can be developed and used in construction through stronger collaboration between government, academic institutions, researchers, professionals, private investors and local communities.

He identified stabilised compressed earth blocks, bamboo composites, laterite-based finishes and pozzolana among the indigenous or locally adaptable technologies and materials that could help reduce construction costs while responding to Nigeria’s climatic and economic conditions.

Attah said the wider adoption of such materials could also generate economic benefits beyond housing.

He said local production could create employment opportunities for young people and artisans, support local manufacturing, expand mining and processing value chains, stimulate economic activity and reduce pressure on foreign exchange.

He therefore called on architects to take the lead in promoting indigenous construction solutions.

According to him, professionals should engage government on policies that support local materials, work with academic institutions on research, encourage private-sector investment and involve communities in accepting and adopting locally developed construction technologies.

Attah also assured that the Kogi State Chapter would continue to promote sustainable, affordable and locally driven housing solutions.

He urged architects to design, specify and supervise the appropriate use of indigenous materials in construction projects.

Housing costs remain a major concern

The discussions at the event come amid wider concerns over the rising cost of housing construction in Nigeria.

Stakeholders in the housing sector have repeatedly linked high construction costs to expensive building materials, limited access to affordable finance and other development constraints.

Earlier housing-sector discussions have similarly called for greater adoption of locally produced materials, arguing that increased local production could reduce construction costs, conserve foreign exchange and create jobs.

The use of indigenous materials has also been identified as an important part of efforts to reduce dependence on imported construction inputs.

The Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute has previously developed materials and technologies including pozzolana, interlocking block-making machines and fibre-reinforced roofing materials, although commercialisation and mass production have remained challenges.

The NIA’s Kogi Chapter is therefore calling for stronger links between research, policy, investment and actual construction so that locally developed technologies can move beyond research and pilot stages into wider housing delivery.

Five professionals examine housing solutions

The World Architecture Day programme featured presentations and discussions involving five professionals who examined the housing theme from different perspectives.

They included Arc. Dr. Mohammad Adamu, MNIA; Arc. Isah Obenege Suleiman, MNIA; Arc. Dr. Jibrin Olanusi, MNIA; Bdr. Adoke Ismaila Ibrahim, MNIOB; and Bdr. Aisha Oruma-Sylvanus, MNIOB.

Oloninisi encouraged participants to engage with the presentations and discussions and use the platform to develop collaborations that could contribute to improvements in the built environment.

The discussions ultimately centred on the need to turn the recognition of housing as a basic human need into practical delivery strategies.

For the NIA Kogi State Chapter, that includes promoting indigenous construction technologies, strengthening local production and encouraging policies and investment that can make decent housing more affordable to Nigerians.

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The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has called for greater investment in research and innovation to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, urging architects, researchers, and tertiary institutions to develop practical solutions that can make housing more affordable and sustainable.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Female Architects of Nigeria (FAN) to the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja, TETFund Executive Secretary Arc. Sonny Echono said Nigeria’s housing challenges require research-driven approaches capable of lowering construction costs, improving building technologies, and reducing dependence on imported construction materials.

Echono explained that TETFund’s National Research Fund has been expanded to encourage broader participation in research that addresses national development priorities. He stressed that universities, research institutions, and professionals in the built environment should focus on producing market-ready innovations that can transform Nigeria’s housing and construction industries.

According to him, Nigeria possesses abundant natural resources that can be converted into high-quality local building materials, reducing the industry’s dependence on imported products that are often affected by foreign exchange volatility and rising costs. He noted that strengthening local research would not only lower construction expenses but also create jobs, promote industrial development, and improve housing affordability.

The TETFund Executive Secretary also encouraged architects to collaborate more closely with researchers, universities, manufacturers, and government agencies to develop climate-responsive housing technologies suited to Nigeria’s environment. He said innovation should move beyond academic publications and be translated into commercially viable products and construction methods that directly benefit the housing sector.

Representatives of the Female Architects of Nigeria welcomed the call for stronger collaboration, noting that research and innovation remain essential to delivering affordable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable housing. The association also advocated increased support for research that addresses urbanisation, housing affordability, and sustainable building practices.

Housing experts believe that bridging Nigeria’s estimated housing deficit will require more than increased funding for construction. They argue that sustained investment in research, locally sourced materials, modern building technologies, and stronger partnerships between academia and industry will play a crucial role in reducing costs, improving construction quality, and accelerating housing delivery across the country.

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