A MALL LIKE NO OTHER

Lanre, Ikenna, and Bashir are eternal friends whose friendship started in one of Nigeria’s foremost Architecture Schools several decades ago. All three of them are Lagosian and could confidently stake a claim to be from Lagos, a bustling State in South-Western Nigeria and her economic capital. Recently, though, the jamboree surrounding the Presidential Elections reminded them all, that their ancestral homes were far away from EKO (Lagos) and that Lagos was indeed their ‘second home’. Thus the city they've always known and called ‘home’ became their ‘second home,’ thanks to partisan politics. This rude fact seems to have been reluctantly accepted and respected as the Lagos ‘descendants’ have no such places as ‘ancestral homes’ except Lagos. The friendship shared amongst these Architects, who are now in their early 40s, is quintessentially Nigerian, as they are from the major regions of the Country, and is in conformity with the intents of the founding fathers of Nigeria who designed policies to ensure, enabling environments for every Nigerian to thrive within her shores and in any of her 36 States despite having their 'ancestral homes' elsewhere.

They had just finished having their Salah (Eid al-Adha) dinner at Bashir's family house on Victoria Island, an event Lanre and Ikenna, look forward to annually despite not being Muslims, because to them ‘absolutely nothing compares to the sumptuous meals served in Bashir House’ on such days. Interestingly, Bashir also claims to enjoy the Christmas dinners more as he usually takes his, starter and main course meals at Ikenna House and desserts at Lanre's. Lanre and Ikenna are Christians. In Bashir opinion, the Christmas season is truly the 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year'. This year's Salah celebration is special though, as it is the first time in over a decade that they are all together, as Lanre who immigrated(japa) to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s Degree in Urban Design and eventually settled in the Country. So there was a lot of catching up to do, especially from Lanre, as Bashir and Ikenna had always continued with the Salah/Christmas tradition.

Olodo (Yoruba word for dullard) as Lanre is fondly called by his friends for having the least GPA amongst them was asked by Ikenna, why he was recently described as a BIM guru by one of their classmates on a social media group in which they all belong, Lanre laughed and replied, it was because the ‘classmate in question’ never knew he is just an Oluya (a jovial Yoruba word for an artist) which is another name Bashir and Ikenna called him because he is the most gifted designer amongst them. Lanre, in return, calls his friends Eni-iya (another jovial Yoruba word for a subject of an artwork).

Lanre had a distinction in his final Design Studio work and the highest score in their class for his project as a post-graduate, a testament to his zeal and resilience as he had always been too close to the ultimate grade throughout his undergraduate and post graduate studies. He however, got it right in his final project in their Architecture School. It was a day to remember for him as his younger colleagues who witnessed his presentation and engagement with the External Juror (a Professor of Architecture) lifted him sky-high, not minding it was an examination. Their reaction was swift, upon hearing the Juror's verdict on Lanre's presentation. In Lanre's recap of the events of his last presentation in Architecture School, he reflected on the scene created by his younger colleagues and likened it to; ‘the Super Eagles (Nigeria's Senior Football Team) just scored a winning goal’.

Bashir, probed further on his experiences as an Architect in the UK, to which Lanre responded with a huge sigh and subsequently explained that his UK experience cannot be detached from his experience as an NYSC/Corp Member in Maiduguri (Northern Nigeria) where he learnt how to use the CAD from a book because the Partners in the Practice he worked were desirous of a transition from hand drafts to CAD. Lanre was able to master relevant CAD skills by studying and practicing persistently after work hours for about 2 months and by the 3rd month the Partners were happy to take away his drawing board and replaced it with a Desktop Computer. He subsequently assisted his colleagues, who were inspired by the progress he made in a very short time to ditch their drawing boards for CAD. Lanre returned to Lagos after his mandatory service year (NYSC) to join a reputable Architecture Practice based on the CAD skillsets he exhibited during his interview and his work samples. While leaving Maiduguri, the Managing Partner of the Practice he worked, joked that Lanre must have consumed about 3 Cows during his stay in Maiduguri as he had Suya (traditional smoked spice meat) about twice daily.

Lanre worked in the Lagos Practice for several years with some of the best minds in Architecture before his venturing abroad for his MSc degree. He passed his professional examinations during his time with the Lagos Practice and was the first amongst his friends to do so. Lanre, however got registered at the same time with Ikenna and Bashir about five years after his professional examination, as the registration body for Architecture would not approve his registration until the original copies of his certificates were presented for requisite verification. Lanre’s School of Architecture issued his certificates about 10 years after his graduation ensuring he got his registration at the same time as Bashir and Ikenna.

On arriving in the UK, Lanre registered for his MSc in Urban Design and Planning and completed the degree on schedule with commendation in 18 months. During his 18-month study, he passed his Part 1 and 2 exemption examinations as an Architect in the UK while working part-time in an Architecture Practice in London’s East-Central. Lanre’s CAD skills had taken him from Maiduguri to Lagos and now London. Upon completion of his studies, he gained full-time employment with a renowned Architecture Firm, located in London’s East-Central also, His new employment was secured after his work visa was approved. However, with big names come big challenges. The firm was recently commissioned to design a very big Mall in the UAE, which must be delivered using BIM as required by the Client, but very few of the in-house Architects and Technicians had BIM experience and nobody currently use the software within the practice. Lanre’s new London firm arranged a 1-week Crash Course with an Expert, who relocated to the UK for the purpose. Lanre was lucky to be selected for the BIM training.

For the concluding part see- https://vocal.media/authors/sola-ige-64kc0yza