Faculty of Environmental Sciences
About the Faculty
Historical Background
From the School of Environmental Design to the Faculty of Environmental Sciences
The history of architectural education at the University of Lagos can be traced to the establishment of the School of Environmental Design in 1970 as a project in the Faculty of Engineering. Following the intervention of Arc. S. I. Kola Bankole, Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Professor J. S. Myers, first Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota, accepted the offer to start the school.
The School started to function in the 1971/72 academic year with 18 students who matriculated for the core Bachelor of Environmental Studies (B.E.S.) programme. It became autonomous as the Faculty of Environmental Design in the 1973/74 session, and in 1975/76 the two-tier B.E.S./M.E.D. (Architecture) degree structure was introduced. At the end of that session the first students completed the Master in Environmental Design (M.E.D.) programme.
In the 1977/78 session the unit course structure was introduced, the Urban Design option was added to the M.E.D. (Architecture) programme, and an exchange programme with the German foundation DAAD was established. Under it, the DAAD supported visits by Professor Elmar Dittman (Dean, 1976–1979), Mr. Von Mende (Senior Lecturer in Building Technology, 1977–1980) and Adolf Schroeter (Visiting Professor of Architecture and Historical Preservation Expert, 1981/82). Two graduates completed Ph.D. programmes in Berlin and Munich under the programme.
An exchange programme was also established with the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, in 1981/82. Professor David Aradeon taught a postgraduate seminar on African Architectural Technology in São Paulo in 1982, and three alumni took the postgraduate course in Urban Design there on Brazilian Government scholarships.
In the 1980/81 academic year the Faculty was restructured into three interdependent departments: Architecture, Building Technology, and City & Regional Planning. In the same year the six-year continuous B.E.S./B.Arch. professional degree programme replaced the B.E.S./M.E.D. programme, in line with the University’s new four-year undergraduate structure and the requirements of the School of Postgraduate Studies, established in 1980/81.
Following the rationalisation of programmes in 1986, the Faculty of Environmental Design was restructured into the present Faculty of Environmental Sciences, with the departments of Architecture & Design, Building, Estate Management, and Geography & Planning. A further rationalisation in 1997 produced the departments of Architecture, Building, Estate Management, and Urban & Regional Planning, and the Faculty today also includes the Department of Quantity Surveying.
From the 1999/2000 session the Department of Architecture began running a B.Sc./M.E.D. programme, with the M.E.D. under the School of Postgraduate Studies. Postgraduate programmes now include P.G.D.E.D., M.E.D., M.L.A., M.U.D., M.Arch. and M.Phil./Ph.D.
Our Vision
To be the pace-setting Faculty of Environmental Sciences in Nigeria and beyond in producing excellent graduates in research, learning and character.
Our Mission
To provide the platform of high academic standard in both research and learning in Environmental Sciences.
Dean’s Message
It is my great honour to welcome you on behalf of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, the University of first choice. Our faculty stands as a beacon of academic excellence, innovation, and global collaboration. We take pride in providing not just a place of learning, but a true academic home where students and scholars can thrive. Our facilities are modern, purpose-driven, and equipped with state-of-the-art resources that enhance both teaching and research. From well-designed lecture halls and fully functional material workshops and studios, to collaborative research centres and digital libraries, every aspect of our environment is tailored to inspire curiosity, foster creativity, and prepare our students for the challenges of the future. We are equally proud of our team of outstanding lecturers, renowned experts in their fields, committed mentors, and passionate educators who guide our students to achieve their full potential. Alongside them, we celebrate our students, who are not only diligent and respectful but also ambitious, forward-thinking, and eager to make a difference in the world. Together, they form a vibrant academic community built on respect, discipline, and a shared pursuit of excellence. The Faculty of Environmental Sciences is also deeply committed to international engagement. Through our exchange programmes and global partnerships, our students and staff benefit from cross-cultural experiences, diverse perspectives, and opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and real-world solutions on a global scale. Above all, our faculty is built on a foundation of a conducive and supportive environment, where learning goes beyond the classroom, and where innovation, character, and collaboration prepare our graduates to lead in addressing the world’s pressing environmental challenges. I invite you to join us in this journey of knowledge, growth, and impact. Welcome to the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the home where excellence meets opportunity. Thank you.
Prof. Olumide Afolarin Adenuga
DEAN
