General Manager of Umuahia ( Abia State ) Capital Development Authority ( UCDA) Mr Kingsley Agomoh and the state Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects ( NIA ) have corroborated that the proposed new state capital in Umuahia should be designed for Strength.
They did so during the NIA two day 2025 Forum that ended at the weekend in Umuahia, and had the theme ” Design For Strength: A Focus On New Umuahia Capital City “.
The State NIA Chapter Chairman Architect Emmanuel Nwankpa in his address , said that the Architects Forum, which is held annually alongside the World Architects Day ( WAD) on first Monday of October, serves as a veritable platform for industry experts , policymakers, stakeholders, progressives from all walks of life, to review topical environmental and physical development issues that have dominated the center stage of global discourses, and consider the impact of the physical environment on the people’s everyday lives.
Architect Nwankpa also stated that state Chapter adopted this year’s global theme “Design For Strength “, and that the theme finds ready expression and relevance in the vision and policy of the current Abia state government, regarding the new Umuahia capital city that is on the horizon.
Agomoh, ( the UCDA general manager ), who was the Guest Speaker, commended the Architects for choosing a theme that speaks directly to collective aspiration to build, not just structures, but a legacy of strength, resilience, and purpose for Abia state.
He also enjoined other Stakeholders in the building industry to champion the New modern Umuahia Capital Territory being envisaged by the Abia state Governor Dr Alex Otti , to reflect a City powered with vision through collaboration that redefines sustainable growth.
He said that the focus on strength could not have come at a more defining moment than now that the people live in an age that demands resilience, innovation and foresight, noting that “across Nigeria and beyond, cities are being redefined, not by size, but by the strength of their design , the clarity of their purpose, and the inclusiveness of their growth”.
He therefore tasked Architects to design not just buildings , but the future of the people, positing that a truly strong design outlives trends, anticipates change, absorbs shock, nurtures the human spirit, and gives a city both its backbone and soul.
Governor Otti, who was represented by the Facility Manager, Government House, Architect Onuka Ukwa, said that his administration has set to move big in the Umuahia development space in response to the growing population numbers, and translate the new Umuahia Capital City dream into reality.
The governor therefore beckoned Architects to identify with the government, make inputs in the project outlines and share their concerns , indicating that necessary support will be given them.
In a paper titled ” Professional Engagement In Real Estate: A Strategy For Urban Development”, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Chief Lekwa Ezutah, said that professional engagement in real estate refers to the active and ethical involvement of trained, certified and regulated practitioners in the process of land acquisition, development, valuation, management and investment , stressing that professionals must reposition themselves as strategic partners, not contractors for design or approvals, but as co-drivers of Urban transformation.
He maintained that it requires professionals to move beyond technical design to play strategic roles in shaping investments, policy and community outcomes to ensure that decisions in real estate are informed, data-driven and sustainable, adding that Urban Development must therefore be driven not by speculation or politics , but by professional expertise, ethical standards and strategic planning.
” Real Estate can either build or break cities, while Urban Development that is not guided by professionals is development without direction, stressing that when professionals collaborate effectively, cities grow in a planned , equitable , and resilient manner”
According to Ezutah, professional engagement in real estate is not an option, but a duty, and the surest strategy for achieving orderly , sustainable and inclusive Urban Development.
Explaining further he said “Real Estate Development acts as a driver of Urban growth, while Urban Planning provides the framework for orderly Real Estate Investment; Real Estate is the Engine, while planning is the steering . When the two are aligned, settlements grow sustainably, but when disconnected, we have urban sprawl and it’s attendant challenges and disadvantages”.
Ezuta therefore called for strengthening of professional engagement in real estate practices and development, stressing that there is nexus between Real Estate and Urban Development
