By Kenneth Oboh

The Senate of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has approved the establishment of a School of Architecture, comprising three departments Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Design, and Interior Architecture and Design.

Reacting to the development, the President of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), Atumye Amos Alao, described the approval as a landmark decision that further strengthens professional education in Nigeria’s built environment sector.

Alao said the inclusion of a Department of Landscape Architecture and Design was particularly significant, noting that it elevated the discipline as a specialized field of study within one of Nigeria’s foremost technology focused universities.

According to him, Landscape Architecture integrates ecology, planning, design, and technology to shape environments that balance human needs with natural systems, adding that the discipline offers critical solutions to Nigeria’s pressing environmental challenges.

“In a country faced with rapid urbanization, climate change, flooding, desertification, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss, landscape architects play a vital role in designing resilient urban green spaces, stormwater systems, restored ecosystems, parks, and green infrastructure,” Alao said.

He explained that such interventions improve air and water quality, mitigate urban heat, enhance public health, support biodiversity, and promote social equity, making the profession increasingly relevant to national development.

Alao further noted that the approval comes at a pivotal time, as Nigeria advances its sustainable development and climate resilience agenda. He said demand for professionally trained landscape architects is expanding across sectors including urban development authorities, environmental and housing ministries, private design and consulting firms, real estate development, academia, research institutions, non governmental organizations, and emerging fields such as ecotourism and environmental services.

He commended the FUTA Senate and university leadership for their foresight and commitment to aligning academic programs with national development priorities and global best practices.

“This approval also reflects the steady and encouraging growth of Landscape Architecture education in Nigeria, as more institutions recognize its strategic relevance to sustainable national development,” he said.

Alao added that SLAN would provide full professional support to the new department through collaboration in curriculum development, accreditation guidance, faculty and student mentorship, capacity building workshops, and industry linkages to ensure the production of globally competitive and locally relevant graduates.

He described the initiative as a decisive step toward greener, more resilient, and sustainable landscapes across Nigeria.

Alao is also the Secretary General of the International Federation of Landscape Architects Africa (IFLA Africa).