SLAN Year in Review: Reflections from Nigeria and a Shared African Outlook

As we move into a new professional year, the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN) is pleased to share key reflections from 2025 with the wider IFLA Africa community. Like many professional bodies across the continent, the past year has been one of steady progress, quiet challenges, and renewed commitment to strengthening the role of landscape architecture in public life.

In Nigeria, SLAN has continued to deepen institutional engagement, particularly with regulatory and professional bodies such as the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON). These ongoing conversations, though gradual, are laying important groundwork for improved professional recognition, regulatory alignment, and long-term collaboration. Such efforts echo a shared African reality, where advocacy, patience, and collective resolve remain essential.

Encouragingly, SLAN recorded modest but meaningful membership growth in 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the profession and its relevance within the built and natural environment discourse. Alongside this, landscape architects in Nigeria increasingly contributed to national conversations on climate resilience and disaster response. Notably, SLAN was invited to contribute professional insights following the Mokwa flood disaster, reinforcing the critical role of landscape-based approaches in managing river systems, floodplains, and nature-based solutions.

On the global stage, Nigeria maintained visibility through representation at international forums, supporting IFLA Africa’s broader mandate of ensuring African voices remain present in global professional conversations. A major milestone was SLAN securing the hosting rights for the 2027 IFLA Africa Symposium, a responsibility accepted with careful consideration and strong collective support. This commitment reflects confidence in regional collaboration and shared professional capacity across Africa.

Education and the future pipeline also saw important developments. New academic programmes and departments in landscape architecture are emerging within Nigerian universities, alongside strong alumni-led initiatives that support mentoring, teaching, and professional exposure. These efforts resonate with continental priorities around strengthening education, accreditation, and professional standards.

Strategic partnerships continue to play a key role. SLAN’s collaboration with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) opens opportunities for capacity building, professional examinations, and continuing professional development, reinforcing global standards while responding to local contexts.

Looking ahead to 2026, priorities include advancing preparations for the 2027 IFLA Africa Symposium, strengthening advocacy for statutory recognition, expanding professional development opportunities, and improving institutional resilience. Underpinning all of this is a clear call for collective action. Professional bodies cannot advance alone; progress depends on active participation, shared leadership, and cross-border collaboration.

SLAN shares these reflections in the spirit of learning, solidarity, and continental exchange. As African landscape architects, our challenges may differ in detail, but our ambitions are aligned: resilient landscapes, inclusive cities, strong institutions, and a profession that speaks with confidence and clarity across Africa.

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Amos Alao

President, SLAN