One of Nigeria’s first four Architecture graduates, Fola Alade, has passed away at 87 in Ekiti state.
According to NAN, family sources said he died on Saturday in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti state.
Architectural masterpieces bearing his insignia are the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, defunct Federal Secretariat building, Ikoyi, Lagos, and National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Others are Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Satellite Town, Lagos, Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, and Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies building, Kuru, near Jos.
Others are National Judicial Institute, Abuja, and Nigerian Embassy buildings in 11 countries.
Alade graduated from the Nigerian College of Arts & Sciences and Technology, Zaria (now Ahmadu Bello University) in 1961 as one of the first four Architecture graduates.
Thereafter, he completed his post-graduate studies at Architectural Association School of Tropical Studies, London in 1965, on a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Alade was the first Architect to become a Federal Permanent Secretary in 1976, a post he held until his retirement in 1979 after which he established his private practice Fola Alade Associates in 1979.
After his post-professional training, he became an associate of Royal Institute of British Architects and Architects’ Registration Council of the United Kingdom in 1963.
Alade joined the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as a Resident Architect in the old Western Region and later Lagos City Council.
In 1969, he became the first Registrar of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria. He served as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.
Alade was appointed as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Federal University of Port Harcourt in 1990.
Meanwhile, Speaker, Ekiti House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, in his condolence message, described Alade’s demise as a great loss to Ekiti State in particular and to Nigeria in general.
This was contained in a statement by Mr Afuye’s Special Adviser on Media, Tai Oguntayo, on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.
Ekiti Assembly speaker eulogised the architectural professionalism of Alade in his lifetime.
He described the foremost architect as the giant pillar behind the various physical structures of many institutions in Nigeria today.
Afuye said the late architect was a “patriot in the real sense who left his mark on the sands of time.’’
He prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Alade is survived by wife, five children and other loved ones.
Via NAN.
