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By Bolanle Omisore
Olayinka Adedoyin, a Nigerian researcher and senior building technical officer at the Ogun State Ministry of Housing, has launched a new project aimed at improving indoor air quality across Nigeria. The initiative, named Healthy Air Nigeria, seeks to address the adverse health effects of poor indoor air quality in both residential and commercial buildings.
Adedoyin, a building-science expert, explained that his ongoing research focuses on the harmful impact of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health, comfort, and productivity. He highlighted that emissions from common materials such as paints, finishes, and inadequate ventilation contribute to unhealthy indoor environments, even in modern, energy-efficient buildings.
“We can’t keep celebrating architecture that dazzles the eyes but endangers the lungs,” he stated.
To tackle this issue, Adedoyin is assembling a diverse team of environmental scientists, mechanical engineers, architects, and health professionals. Together, they aim to develop and deploy advanced indoor-air-monitoring systems across Nigeria.
The Healthy Air Nigeria project plans to collaborate with key agencies, including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and select state agencies, to establish indoor-air-quality standards for both public and private facilities.
“Our goal is to help Nigeria shift from reactive maintenance to proactive wellness,” Adedoyin emphasized.
The initiative is expected to promote regular air-quality audits in schools, hospitals, and workplaces, ultimately making clean indoor air a standard requirement across the nation.
