Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife — The Ife Architecture Summit, the flagship event of the Ife Architecture Students’ Association (IFASA), is set to make a bold return with its second edition themed “BEYOND BUILD,” spotlighting a transformative rethinking of architecture as not just a design discipline, but as a tool for nation-building, leadership, mentorship, and educational advancement.
Scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 19, 2025, as a grand highlight of the university’s annual Archiweek, the Ife Architecture Summit 2.0 will convene top architectural minds, industry leaders, and forward-thinking students under one roof, to interrogate and reimagine the future of architecture in Nigeria.
Themed “The Future of Architecture in Nigeria: The Role of Leadership, Mentorship, and Education,” this year’s summit promises rich, thought-provoking dialogue. A high-powered panel session will feature some of the most esteemed figures in Nigerian architecture alongside emerging young voices reshaping the built environment.
Distinguished Guests, Honorees and Thought Leaders
Among the eminent professionals confirmed for the summit are:
Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi, PNIA, FNIA, President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects
Arc. Olusegun Ladega, FNIA, Managing Director, Interstate Architects Ltd.
Prof. C.O. Osasona, FNIA, a foremost academic and expert in architectural heritage
In recognition of their lasting impact on architecture, these distinguished guests will be honored with special awards:
Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi will receive the Architectural Leadership & Nation-Building Award
Arc. Olusegun Ladega will be conferred with the Innovative Practice & Urban Development Award
Prof. C.O. Osasona will be celebrated with a Lifetime Impact Award in Architectural Education & Heritage
Also expected at the summit are leaders and members of allied student bodies within the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, as well as architecture students from universities across South-West Nigeria.
Institutional Endorsement and Stakeholder Support
Despite being a student-led initiative, the summit enjoys the full backing of the university’s top leadership. Among those expected to grace the occasion are:
Professor Simeon Bamire, Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University
Professor Olusegun Ogunba, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management
Professor A.D. Jiboye, Head, Department of Architecture
Their presence reflects the summit’s growing influence and the recognition of IFASA’s vision as a catalyst for academic and professional excellence.
BBG Administration: Charting a Bigger, Better, and Greater Vision
Led by President Oyekan Favour, the BBG (Bigger, Better, Greater) administration of IFASA has been widely acclaimed for its innovative and transformative leadership. Together with Vice President Teslim Yusuf, Secretary-General John Ojo, and other vibrant student leaders, the administration has steered IFASA into an era of creativity, inclusiveness, and progress.
Their track records include:
A landmark socio-academic trip to Lagos, featuring visits to iconic projects like Eko Atlantic City, J.K. Randle Museum, Banana Island sites, and architectural landmarks in UNILAG.
Hosting a robust software bootcamp training students in AutoCAD, Revit and 3Ds Max.
Collaborating with Future Design Collaborative for a virtual summit that drew participants from across Africa.
Launching mental health and wellness initiatives in collaboration with Arogi Trauma Care Foundation.
Leading IFASA’s participation in the NAAS Western Regional Convention held at Bells University.
Organizing key events like the Visualization Design Challenge, Musical Open Fest, and a Love Feast supporting the university’s non-academic staff.
Facilitating mentorship and research through online platforms, including Twitter Spaces and industry-led conversations.
Summit Legacy and Institutional Excellence
The inaugural edition in 2024, themed “Dream to Reality,” laid a strong foundation. It featured notable figures such as Bayo Omoboriowo, Anderson Edewor, and Arc. Cynthia Adeokun, setting the tone for a reawakening in architectural thought. The 2025 edition builds on that momentum, casting a wider net of ideas, inclusiveness, and vision.
The Department of Architecture, OAU, has long distinguished itself in the academic and professional space. Renowned for championing sustainable design, digital innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the department remains one of the most competitive in the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management.
More Than a Summit: A Movement for Architectural Renaissance
Ife Architecture Summit 2.0 is not merely a conference—it is a movement. It signals a generational shift, driven by students determined to push architecture beyond buildings and into the domains of national development, educational reform, and socio-cultural transformation.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with urbanization challenges, housing deficits, and infrastructural gaps, the summit offers a timely and visionary platform to redefine the architectural profession’s role in shaping the future.
For IFASA and its vibrant student body, the message is clear: architecture is no longer just about blueprints—it is about building people, institutions, and a better Nigeria. The Ife Architecture Summit 2.0 is the next bold step in that journey.
