Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
A university teacher, Dr. Ajayi Ayodeji Olusola, has called on the government to prioritise the establishment of environmentally sustainable cities.
His impassioned plea was a respond to the pressing need for improved living standards and enhanced well-being, aligning with the global endeavour to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Amid concerted global efforts to realise SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Ajayi emphasises the pivotal role of architects and urban planners in reshaping urban landscapes.
He underscored the importance of integrating eco-friendly practices, green spaces, and advanced technology to mitigate air pollution, improve air quality, and foster physical and mental health.
According to him “I firmly believe that sustainable planning and construction of cities in developing nations are imperative due to the rapid proliferation of slum settlements in urban areas, driven by rural-to-urban migration fueled by disproportionate resource distribution favoring urban centres.
“To attain the SDGs, concerted local efforts are essential, bolstering urban development capacity to enhance access to vital public services and housing, while minimising resource consumption and environmental impact, thereby fostering health and well-being. The responsibility largely falls on federal and state governments in Nigeria to actualise this vision.”
Dr. Ajayi added: “As a prominent member of the Solutions Forum for Sustainable Development Goals, Ajayi collaborates with professionals and researchers to devise context-specific solutions tailored to Nigeria’s distinct challenges. His focus on SDG 11 has spearheaded transformative initiatives, such as the redesign and enhancement of sustainable tourist parks across major cities in Osun State.”
Moreover, Ajayi’s role as Consultant Architect for the Master Plan of UNIOSUN’s campuses has been pivotal in advancing ecological sustainability. By integrating SDGs-focused pedagogies into urban planning and master plan development, he has steered the university’s endeavours to combat climate change, exemplified by initiatives like the Matriculation Tree Planting Programme.
Furthermore, in his bid to entrench construction practices in achieving SDG 11, Ajayi as an architect has widely adopted the use of environmentally-friendly building elements to replace wood-based construction methods in the conservation of the environment.
This architect has extensively utilized prefabricated Expanded Polystyrene Panels as alternatives for many traditional building components across several cities in the Nigerian construction industry. With this methodology, a considerable amount of wood that would have gone in sawn formwork for concrete work is significantly reduced, thereby reducing the loss of biodiversity in Nigeria.
