The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), in collaboration with Design Genre Limited and the Ife Architecture Students’ Association (IFEASA), has launched a nationwide Students’ Architectural Design Competition themed “Reimagining the Urban Block: Designing for Sustainability, Livability, and Resilience.”
The competition, organised by the NIA Competitions and Exhibitions Committee, is in honour of Arc. Anthony Okoye, F.Io.D, FNIA, RIBA, LEED AP, Founder and Managing Director of Design Genre Limited, as part of activities marking his 60th birthday.
According to the organisers, the competition aims to engage undergraduate and postgraduate architecture students across Nigerian universities to rethink how cities evolve by creating sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready designs for urban blocks.
Participants are expected to select any existing urban block within Nigerian cities, such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, or Kano, and propose creative designs that address issues like overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and lack of open spaces. The competition will also focus on integrating green spaces, renewable energy, and climate-smart solutions to enhance livability and urban resilience.
The contest will be conducted in two stages, regional and national, with regional winners proceeding to the final round. Winners will be announced during the NIA’s First Quarterly Dinner in 2026.
Entries will be judged on innovation, sustainability, contextual responsiveness, and presentation quality by a distinguished panel of architects including Arc. Goke Omigbodun, FNIA; Arc. Clifford Ohikere, FNIA; and Arc. David Musa, FNIA.
Registration is free and open to all eligible architecture students, with submissions closing on November 30, 2025. Evaluation and jury deliberations will hold from December 6 to 10, 2025, and the top entries will be published by the NIA.
At the national level, winners will receive ₦650,000, ₦450,000, and ₦250,000 respectively for first, second, and third positions, alongside certificates and publication opportunities.
The initiative, the organisers said, is designed to foster innovation among young architects while promoting a design culture that supports Nigeria’s goals of sustainability, livability, and resilient urban development.
