Speaking recently at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) in Calabar, Cross River State, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, pointed out that a remarkable dedication from the people and their leaders is necessary for Nigeria to reach its coveted socio-economic and developmental height. He introduced what he called the 4Cs: Competence, capacity, credibility and commitment, as essential requirements to transform the country.
Architecture: A Resource for Health and Wellbeing was the conference’s theme, and Obi said at the event, “We must aspire to put in place a leadership that is endowed with expertise, capacity, credibility, and dedication. To change Nigeria, leaders must possess these four qualities.” He added that: “The lack of efficiency is what is notably absent in Nigeria’s leadership, government, and economic sectors. Sectoral and overall efforts to improve efficiency are frequently the foundation of good governance and a productive and stable economy.”
He asserted, “If Datti and I are employed by Nigerians on February 25, 2023, we will chase intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, protection of lives and property, but for this to happen, there must be elite consensus on crucial matters of national interest. According to his estimate, it will cost around N60 trillion to build 28 million homes in Nigeria in order to address the country’s housing demands. He explained this to the architects.
Obi also urged the architects to consider some fundamental standards of their profession when thinking about “Housing and Design Excellence for National Development,” including designing for the future and societal and economic well-being, taking demographics into consideration when designing, and designing and building for the general good.