On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Nigerian design sector celebrated a landmark achievement with the inauguration of the Institute of Professional Interior Designers and Product Inventors (IPIDPI) at Alliance Française in Lagos. This significant gathering united prominent architects, designers, educators, and policymakers from across Africa to usher in a new era for Nigeria’s creative economy-one that prioritizes education, regulation, and innovation.
The establishment of IPIDPI marks Nigeria’s first official regulatory and licensing authority dedicated to interior design and product invention. The institute’s vision is comprehensive: to harmonize educational standards, accredit professionals, and elevate Nigerian design practices to meet international benchmarks, all while fostering indigenous creativity and cultural heritage.
In her keynote address, Titi Ogufere, Founder of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) and former President of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), reflected on the extensive journey leading to this milestone. Since founding IDAN in 2007 and spearheading Nigeria’s inaugural interior design degree programme, Ogufere has been instrumental in advancing professional design education nationwide.
She hailed the new institute as “a pivotal advancement that guarantees Nigerian designers the recognition, regulation, and respect they merit both domestically and internationally.”
Ogufere highlighted a pressing challenge within the profession: “More than 90% of interior designers in Nigeria operate without formal certification,” she stated. “The prevalence of unaccredited institutions, uncertified courses, and practitioners lacking ethical foundations undermines public safety, industry quality, and the reputation of design in Nigeria.”
The IPIDPI aims to bridge this gap by clearly defining professional qualifications, establishing educational standards, and facilitating ongoing professional growth. Notably, the institute also encompasses product inventors-designers innovating in furniture, lighting, and materials-under a unified framework that encourages creativity and safeguards intellectual property.
“Before any profession can be legally regulated, it must first self-organize,” Ogufere explained. “Fields like architecture, medicine, and law all began by creating their own governing bodies. That is precisely the foundation we are laying today.”
The Intersection of Education, Culture, and Human-Centered Design
Adding a continental perspective, Professor Odock Pido from the Kenya College of Interior Design enriched the event with his lecture titled “Design, Culture and Human Development in Africa.” He emphasized that African design and product invention must remain deeply connected to cultural traditions and lived realities.
“Interior design and product invention are inherently cultural practices,” Prof. Pido remarked. “They mirror the values and experiences of communities. From the intricate geometry of African fractals to the vibrant hues of Maasai textiles and the elegance of Swahili interiors, our design heritage embodies both identity and history.”
He underscored that Africa’s rich design legacy-characterized by symbolic colors, patterns, and symmetry-forms a solid foundation for a contemporary creative economy that is both authentically African and globally competitive.
Professor Pido advocated for practice-oriented research and the creation of a centralized repository to archive and protect indigenous design knowledge for future generations.
Drawing a connection between culture, education, and human progress, he concluded, “Africa’s advancement through design demands boldness, innovation, and educational reform. We must develop certification pathways that include informally trained practitioners without compromising quality.”
In his keynote, Arc. Mobolaji A. Adeniyi, President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), described the launch as “a visionary leap forward for Nigeria’s design landscape.” He praised Ogufere’s leadership and emphasized that IPIDPI complements the architectural profession rather than competing with it.
“While architecture shapes the physical form and permanence of spaces, interior design breathes life, personality, and meaning into them,” Adeniyi explained. “This institute completes the design spectrum-from architecture to interiors, and from interiors to the products that make spaces functional and human-centric.”
He cautioned that the rise of unregulated training centres and inconsistent educational quality has left a void in Nigeria’s creative industries. “The need for qualified designers has never been more urgent,” he said. “IPIDPI offers a cohesive framework for certification, education, and ethical practice.”
Adeniyi also linked design directly to economic development, citing countries like Italy, Finland, and South Korea that have harnessed design and innovation as catalysts for industrial growth. He argued that Nigeria could replicate this success by connecting designers with manufacturers, investors, and policymakers through structured professional frameworks.
“Design is not merely an aesthetic luxury; it is a strategic instrument for national progress,” he affirmed. “Regulating design protects the public interest, and investing in design fuels innovation.”
Striking a Balance Between Global Standards and Local Roots
A recurring theme throughout the event was the importance of balancing international relevance with cultural authenticity. Adeniyi pointed out that IPIDPI’s alignment with the IFI Global Education Policy and its partnership with the African Council of Interior Architects and Designers (ACIAD) ensure Nigerian design education adheres to global standards while remaining culturally anchored.
This dual focus, he noted, represents Nigeria’s unique competitive advantage. “Our designers must be globally employable yet indispensable within their local contexts.”
Both Ogufere and Adeniyi stressed mentorship, inclusivity, and sustainability as foundational pillars of the institute’s mission. With women leading the Nigerian design movement and a surge of young talent entering the field, IPIDPI is committed to fostering growth through training initiatives, mentorship programs, and collaborative research.
The creation of the Institute of Professional Interior Designers and Product Inventors signifies more than just a new organisation; it heralds a professional renaissance within Nigeria’s creative industries.
This initiative envisions a future where design is celebrated as both an artistic expression and a scientific discipline, a cultural narrative and an economic driver. It also reinforces Nigeria’s position as a continental frontrunner in design education, governance, and innovation.
As Arc. Adeniyi aptly summarized, “This launch is a commitment-a commitment that Nigerian creativity will no longer be fragmented or undervalued. It is a vow that excellence will be guided by ethics, innovation will be fueled by education, and creativity will thrive through collaboration.”
For a nation whose creative industries continue to shape its global identity, IPIDPI stands as both a beacon and a framework, laying the groundwork for the next generation of designers, innovators, and inventors who will redefine how Nigeria lives, works, and creates.