INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN THESIS

Danbushiya village, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna State, Nigeria

This design thesis is about the state of the basic and secondary education system in the rural areas of northern Nigeria and as an architectural response to the issues raised, it proposes a new typology of education which integrates formal education with the skills/interest of the people of the site in question.

The proposal is a maize processing facility building in the small village of Danbushiya, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The proposed project seeks to respond appropriately to the growing issues related to basic primary and secondary education in the rural areas of Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. 

There are numerous physical issues related to education in the whole country, however, the very important issue which this project seeks to respond to is that of high level of illiteracy among the youth of these rural areas, this is usually as a consequence of non-attendance and low enrolment rates in the primary and secondary schools available.

Due to the unfavourable economic situations, pupils are forced to forfeit schooling in order to find some kind of vocation that can generate sufficient income to help themselves and their families survive. In other words, they cannot afford to go to school thereby rendering them uneducated by default. This in turn means that education and vocation in the eyes of these pupils are two separate things and one cannot be done without compromising or terminating the other.

The main objective of this design project is to, through in-depth research, determine the best possible way to integrate secondary education and vocation so that school-aged pupils in the rural area of Danbushiya can have the full benefits which come from participating in both activities.

The idea of proposing a maize processing facility emanates from a site analysis conducted in Danbushiya village. The building is proposed to be linked to the maize farming area of the village and would also have integrated vocational and educational spaces where pupils can work and learn.

It is a high expectation that this proposed project will be environmentally, socially and economically beneficial to the small village of Danbushiya, its surrounding villages and Kaduna State as a whole and also that the government would consider the implementation of such kinds of projects across the other local governments in order to increase the literacy levels in the states and more importantly broaden the opportunities of the inhabitants of these rural areas. 

Location of Danbushiya village along with neighbouring villages and the urban area.

The proposal showing the issues, resources, approach and expected outcome of the project implementation

Urban analysis of the village showing main areas

Analysis of chosen site (Presently a maize farm area)

The advantages this typology of building would yield for both the village and prospective users are numerous and the economic strategy of this proposal recognises the fact that the people or parents of Danbushiya do not have sufficient means to sponsor their children to secondary school, not to mention the materials for primary schools. Therefore, payment of fees in this secondary school/maize processing plant would be in the form of appropriate and adequately allocated labour and in return, standard level of secondary education for the pupils which would meet the standard of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). This would be a fantastic opportunity, based on the natural resources available, for the village to introduce processing and even branding in order to give them an economic advantage, create jobs for the people and create an identity for themselves as pioneers of such a project.

By doing this, the pupils at the end of their studies would have acquired both vocational and educational qualifications and with that, they have what they require to either seek a full time job at the facility or become instructors to the next generation or seek a job elsewhere or further their education.

The approach to the design and construction of this project is one which takes very much into consideration the resources available for the actual implementation of the project. In an effort to avoid high cost which eventually leads to abandonment, reduce negative environmental impacts and achieve a natural but elegant design, three major approaches are being considered namely, waste recycling for innovative building materials, cost effective appropriate construction technology and biophilic (nature-inspired) design approach.

Wall construction with the use of recycled plastic bottles in Kaduna State, Nigeria. source: http://greennigeria.wordpress.com/tag/nigerias-plastic-bottle-house/  

Images showing reading space of a library in Gando, Burkina Faso which was done using sliced clay pots and was transported to the site by the villagers. Image source: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/diebedo-francis-kere-public-library-in-gando/