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…bags FNIA award
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Bature Tagwai, the Director of Public Building at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has challenged young Nigerian architects to embrace diligence, thoroughness, and continuous self-improvement as the cornerstones for a successful career.
Tagwai, who was recently conferred with the prestigious status of a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), described architecture as a demanding profession where hard work and meticulous attention to detail are paramount.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, the FCDA Director advised young professionals to focus on self-driven education and global awareness.
Tagwai said that architecture demands a high level of personal commitment with no tolerance for laxity. “Architecture does not condone laziness. You have to be prompt, you have to be decisive, you have to be diligent in whatever design situation you may find yourself. Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” he said.
He also emphasised the need for architects to actively enrich their knowledge, saying
you have to be very thorough in whatever you do. “Architecture is a course whereby you don’t wait for people to teach you, teach yourself. You try to upgrade your capacity.
“Architects must strive to know what is happening in the modern building environment globally including Dubai, China and other developed countries. This includes continuous self-education to enhance performance in the use of building materials like roofing materials, curtain walls, and painting, where innovation is constant. In so doing you will be successful depending on the opportunity or privileged opportunity that come your way,” he said.
On his recent recommendation and conferment as a fellow of FNIA, Tagwai described it as a product of merit, recalling how he won two major prizes while studying at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
One of the awards, according to him, was the best architectural contribution in traditional Nigerian architecture, noting that his Master’s thesis focused on the Gbagi Traditional Architectural concept with a case study of Abuja.
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“That the Nigerian Institute of Architects recommended or extended their hand of olive to me to be one of their Fellows was out of merit,” Tagwai said,
He expressed gratitude and pledged to utilize his remaining time in government to showcase his experience and contribute to the younger generation.
Speaking on his experience working under the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Tagwai described it as “strictly official” but a “special privilege.”
He commended the minister for confirming his elevation to the position of director, and for appreciating hard work and commitment, which he said had resulted in a visible and rapid transformation of the Abuja landscape.
“I am a lucky privileged gentleman because I get so excited to work with somebody who appreciate hard work, who appreciate human feelings. You will all agree with me that the Abuja landscape have changed. He has brought so much differences.
“He has enhanced so many avenues for people to engage themselves in economic activities. Abuja has been transformed, thus far within just two years and few months. He have created enabling environment for practicing architects, be it in private sector or public service.
“Everybody seems to have that sense of belonging in built environment. Not just only the architect, the engineer, the quantity surveyor, town planners, everybody seems to be excited about how Abuja is been transformed,” he said.
