Colleagues, Associates Hold Colloquium To Honor Professor Igwe

Story & pictures by MARY OMOKHAGBOR

It was a moment of honour to whom honour is due, last Thursday May 6, 2021, at the Julius Berger Engineering Lecture Theatre, in the University of Lagos.

It was a day friends, colleagues and associates gathered to celebrate with a festschrift, a man to whom honour is due, Profesor Joseph M.Igwe, using the avenue of a Book Presentation and Hybrid Colloquium.

The programme which held under the auspices of the Architecture and Urbanism Research Hub, acknowledged the works of Igwe, a seasoned Professor of Architectural History, as an advocate of deep-rooted cultural inputs in design conceptualisation, Theory and Criticism.

The event unveiled a book titled Architectural Confluence: Yesterday Today And Tomorrow, as Igwe was retiring after over forty years of meritorious service to the University’s department of Architecture as well as the building sector in Nigerian generally.  

There a handful of professors, other academics and elites

 The book was co-authored by the coordinator of A&URH Professor Tunji Adejumo and Dr Theo Shittu and have focused the book on: Planning and Architectural History, Local Arts and Crafts In Designs Philosophy, Architectural Forms as Local Metaphor, Crisis Resolution in Urban Designs, Art and Craft Principles in Architecture and the Critique Of Architectural Education.

Prof Igwe, in his address, expressed gratitude to the A&URH while stressing the relevant place of history in Architecture study.

He also provided useful insights to building structures, adding for example, that ‘ A house structure is successful  when the owner or people living in it enjoys staying in there no matter the design.’

In 2001, Prof Igwe, successfully designed the Julius Berger Lecture theatre, the ne Engineering lecture theatre which, to mention few. One of Prof Igwe’s children, Oyencha Igwe, has also chosen a path after her father, been an Architect graduate over ten years.

The event was graced by the former Governor and Minister for Education, Ebonyi state Senator Sam Egwu, and also Deans of faculties and HODS in University of Lagos.

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In an interview with Prof Igwe, to know about he’s post-service He said, ‘I will keep practising even after my retirement because have always practicing through my own private architect firm.