The Architects Regulatory Council of Nigeria has registered over 450 new architects and firms to increase the number of qualified architects and architectural firms in the country.

The council, during the registration, stated that all registered architects in the country must desist from any act of professional misconducts in all their engagements.

ARCON President, Mr Dipo Ajayi, said the registration was part of its main responsibilities, adding that integrity and professionalism should remain the most important elements of the architectural profession

While urging the new architects to think out of the box to make a difference in the built environment, he noted that the nation was quietly going through a revolution, which he said was entrepreneurship.

According to him, architects need to be dynamic and think out of the box to make impactful difference.

“I congratulate all of you for going through all the processes. It is not how long you live, but, it is the fulfillment you derive in life. Don’t ever think that your licence can give you all you want in life, but, fulfilment should be your drive,” Ajayi said.

Warning against misconduct, the ARCON president reminded the new entrants that the regulatory body had in place both Architects Investigative Panel and Architects Disciplinary Tribunal that would deal with cases of infraction without fear or favour.

ARCON’s immediate past president, Mr Umaru Aliu, who lamented quackery in the profession, urged the architects to uplift the code of professional conduct and ethics.

“We have the code of professional conduct and ethics to guide all our undertakings as architects. Unfortunately, we are where we are today due to the lawlessness that has pervaded the land. Foreigners don’t come and take the job all by themselves. They hide behind those who front for them,” he added.

Aliu also charged the new architects to do the right thing always and memorise the code to avoid temptation.

An architect, Umoru Karaye, who spoke on ‘Condition of engagement, charges and agreement by professional architects’, also urged the inductees to familiarise themselves with the document, which he said was developed for the protection of architecture in Nigeria.

ARCON’s Registrar, Mr Umar Murnai, said the regulatory body had come up with Architects Projects Registration Number to prevent incursion into the profession.

Source: Punchng