By Jude Njoku

_THE reconstituted board of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, ARCON, was last week inaugurated in Abuja by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi who charged the members to check the incursion of quacks into the profession.

She described their appointment into the board as a call to national service especially at this time when the architecture profession is “permeated with quacks resulting in poor quality design and building collapse in the country.

The Minister who disclosed that the revised National Building Code is ready, was optimistic that very soon, it will be approved by the government for implementation. “Architects in their traditional roles on building projects must therefore be properly informed, equipped and disciplined to deliver quality service to meet the goals and objectives of the National building Code which is to ensure that buildings are designed, constructed and occupied in such a way as to ensure that health and safety are not compromised,” she counselled.

Mrs Eyakenyi assured them that government will do everything possible to provide the necessary guidance and support to make their work easy. The 49-member regulatory board of experienced architects has the task of regulating the training and practice of architecture in Nigeria. The Council determines the standard of education and experience to be attained by all practising architects.