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Architects and other built environment professionals have called for the mass production and wider commercial distribution of locally sourced building materials to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic manufacturing and expand market opportunities for Nigerian producers.
They made the call at the Architects Forum 2026, organised by the Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACAN) in partnership with Design Week Lagos.
The forum, themed “From Material to Market: The Evolving Role of the Future Designer,” examined how architects and other professionals could transform local materials and innovations into commercially viable products.
Architects Identify Barriers To Local Material Production
Setting the tone, ACAN President, Ekaete Bassey-Fujah, said the industry needed to move beyond developing materials for individual projects to producing goods that could be manufactured at scale and distributed commercially.
Using locally produced bricks as an example, Bassey-Fujah identified unreliable electricity supply and limited access to funding as major constraints facing manufacturers.
She urged architects to explore practical solutions to these challenges, drawing lessons from countries such as China.
Delivering the keynote address, Design Union Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Aihie, said architects should go beyond selecting existing materials to developing innovative products that address local construction needs.
He cited modified concrete blocks, polystyrene-concrete blocks and reusable formwork used in Lagos projects as examples of how locally relevant solutions could improve construction.
Aihie noted that effective design did not necessarily depend on expensive or sophisticated materials but on how professionals applied available resources.
Aihie identified poor documentation, inadequate promotion of local innovations, an import-oriented mindset and resistance to technology as some of the challenges confronting African designers.
He called for stronger collaboration, research, marketing and technology adoption to improve the competitiveness of the industry.
During the panel session, Aihie urged built environment professionals to approach construction challenges as market opportunities that require research and practical solutions.
He recalled that his firm ventured into construction in 2000 after encountering poor finishing standards among local builders working on Oando filling stations.
Aihie also disclosed that his firm had developed a digital platform to help prospective homeowners navigate housing affordability challenges, particularly mortgage interest rates ranging from 25 to 30 per cent.
He said the platform allows users to make periodic contributions through a cooperative model.
Architects Examine Artificial Intelligence In Design
Aihie said artificial intelligence could expand architects’ capabilities but would not replace their creativity.
He encouraged designers to train AI systems using African data to ensure that generated outputs reflect local contexts, housing needs and architectural traditions.
He also urged young designers to promote African identity through architecture, interior design and other creative industries, including food.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Oluremi Ajose-Adeogun, identified cash flow as a critical factor in the survival and growth of architecture firms.
He cited the design-build model, which combines design and construction services, as one approach his group uses to sustain its operations, while acknowledging that the model might not suit every practice.
Ajose-Adeogun also stressed that the quality of AI-generated output depends on the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied to the system.
Manufacturers Urge Early Collaboration On Building Projects
The Technical Director of SANA Group, Dr Sunit Deb Roy, said the company transitioned from contracting to manufacturing about 25 years ago.
Its products include pre-engineered building systems, concrete blocks and fibre-reinforced concrete floors.
Roy said lightweight concrete slabs could reduce steel consumption and foundation costs, potentially lowering overall construction expenses.
He urged architects, engineers, manufacturers and quantity surveyors to collaborate from the early stages of project development, before specifications are finalised.
According to him, early collaboration would help ensure that material choices reflect cost efficiency, structural requirements and practical construction considerations.
The discussions at the forum highlighted the need to connect architectural innovation with manufacturing capacity, commercial distribution and market demand.
Participants called for stronger collaboration across the built environment to help local materials gain wider acceptance and improve the competitiveness of domestic producers.
