Researchers, Lagos officials seek cultural preservation amid rapid urbanisation
African researchers and Lagos State government officials have called for urgent action to safeguard indigenous cultural preservation, expand affordable housing, and drive sustainable development across expanding continental cities.
This collective call emerged during a three-day academic conference titled, “Coastal Urbanism in West Africa and Beyond,” hosted at the Liverpool School of Architecture.
Focusing on the pressures facing coastal communities, Olanrewaju Lagada-Abayomi of the University of Lagos examined how modern urban expansion threatens traditional religious practices and historical sacred days in Lagos Island.
Emphasising the risk to social cohesion, the senior journalist warned that discarding endangered African cultural heritage undermines the foundational indigenous wisdom required for future generations.
Echoing these concerns, fellow researchers Amenaghawon Idawu and Loise Nduku Kitulu highlighted the displacement of collective historical memory in coastal areas alongside the pressing need for sustainable water management.
Responding to these academic insights, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, affirmed the administration’s commitment to delivering standard affordable housing through robust statutory frameworks.
Concurrently, Permanent Secretary Tpl Olayinka Adebayo Wasiu advocated the widespread adoption of durable, locally sourced building materials to significantly reduce construction costs while improving overall structural safety.
Reinforcing the gathering’s central message, keynote speakers Professor Shuaib Kwasa and Professor Taibat Lawanson concluded that coastal cities must tackle overlapping environmental crises by ensuring urban progress remains firmly anchored in local identity and community solidarity.
