Designing the Future: Benimana, Lawanson to headline Ecobank Design and Build 2025

Ecobank Nigeria has announced that celebrated architect Arc. Christian Benimana and leading urban planning scholar Prof. Taibat Lawanson will headline the Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition 2025, taking place from September 24 to 28 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos.

A statement from the bank said Arc. Benimana, co-founder of the African Design Centre and principal at MASS Design Group, is internationally recognized for advancing socially responsive and sustainable African architecture. He will deliver a keynote address titled “Designing the Future” on Day 3 of the exhibition.

Prof. Lawanson, Leverhulme Professor of Planning and Heritage at the University of Liverpool, is widely respected for her groundbreaking research on African urban informality, housing, and spatial justice. She will lead a session on “Designing Better Cities and Homes in Nigeria” on Day 2.

The exhibition’s knowledge exchange sessions will also feature:

“International vs. Local: The Sourcing Question for Interior Design” with Patrick Koshoni, Tola Akerele, Aishat Lawal, and Adeyemo Shokunbi.

“Women in Design & Architecture” with Jacqueline Aki, Safiya Yahaya, Nwamaka Okoye, and Sandra Edoho.

Insights from Malik Afegbua, Remi Dada, Adewunmi Adegbola, and Omon Anenih, exploring the future of design, technology, wellness, and sustainability.

Omoboye Odu, Head of SMEs at Ecobank Nigeria, noted: “These sessions will deliver practical insights and fresh perspectives that can shape the future of design, construction, and architecture across Africa.”

The Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition 2025 underscores the bank’s broader commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, driving financial inclusion, and connecting local businesses with global opportunities. Ecobank Nigeria continues to invest in the growth of SMEs through initiatives such as the Adire Lagos Experience, +234 Art Fair, Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship, and Oja Oge 2025. These efforts are complemented by extensive training and empowerment programs designed to strengthen businesses nationwide.

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the leading pan-African banking group, looks forward to welcoming industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts to this flagship event.