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ACANigeria, NIA Stakeholders Applaud Utopia Bath and Kitchen Products

Published

3 months ago

July 11, 2025

Stakeholders from the Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACANigeria) and the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) have praised Utopia Bath and Kitchen for its exceptional product quality and innovative designs.

The commendations were made during the 2025 Sundown Cocktail Event, organized by ACANigeria in partnership with Utopia Bath and Kitchen Nigeria. Themed “Staying Connected Through Industry Collaboration”, the event brought together key industry professionals to explore current trends and challenges in architecture and design.

Utopia Bath and Kitchen is a leading manufacturer of complete bathroom solutions, offering a wide range of products manufactured under strict WRAS standards in the UK. All products come with comprehensive warranties.

Stakeholders who spoke with the NAN at the event emphasized that the partnership between ACANigeria and Utopia demonstrates the importance of collaboration in raising industry standards.

Strengthening Professional Bonds
Arc. Olusegun Paul Adetokunbo Ladega, a Fellow of the NIA and the pioneer President of ACANigeria, described the Sundown Cocktail as a vital initiative to foster professional bonding beyond typical project settings.

> “ACANigeria organizes regular networking events called ‘The Sundowners.’ We bring architects together across cities for informal networking, idea sharing, and collaboration,” he said.

“Today marks the first Sundowner outside Lagos this year, and it’s significant because Utopia has graciously hosted us in Abuja. It’s a relaxed setting, but an essential platform for exchanging experiences and mentoring, especially for younger architects and students.”

Ladega, also Managing Director of Interstate Architects Ltd., commended the quality of Utopia’s product offerings:

“I’ve heard testimonies from professionals with 20 years of experience using this brand. That speaks volumes about its reliability. Utopia has set a benchmark for product durability and design in our industry.”

Innovation and Standards
Arc. Sani Saulawa, First Vice President of the NIA, echoed these sentiments, noting that Utopia’s product durability and attention to detail address persistent challenges in the industry:

“Often, we encounter products that look great initially but don’t stand the test of time. Our biggest industry challenges revolve around plumbing systems and sanitary fittings. Utopia addresses these with long-term warranties — 12 years for tapware and 25 years for ceramics. That’s impressive.”

He stressed that events like these are crucial for architects to explore new technologies and products first-hand.
A National Reach

Arc. Lanre Olusola, Vice President of ACANigeria and President of the Sub-Saharan Africa chapter of the American Institute of Architects, described the event as a step toward national engagement:

‘This is the first ACAN Sundown Cocktail in Abuja. Most of our events have taken place in the South, so bringing this to the North is important. Utopia has provided a platform for this meaningful collaboration.”

Olusola highlighted the importance of aligning product manufacturers and architectural consultants:

“It’s vital for architects to interact with manufacturers to understand the standards and quality of products being specified in their designs. This synergy ensures better outcomes for clients.”

Broad Industry Impact
Arc. Ninah Briggs emphasized that the event reflects broader architectural trends such as sustainability, inclusive design, and innovation:
“Hosting this event at Utopia’s warehouse is a great start to what I believe will be a long-term partnership. The exposure to their high-quality product range was eye-opening.”

Arc. Leke Nadi, Chair of ACANigeria’s Membership Committee, described the event as “epoch-making.”
“Utopia is raising the bar with world-class products. I encourage all architects to visit and explore their offerings. The experience will certainly influence future specifications.”

He also urged architects to register with ACANigeria to access member-exclusive benefits such as business advisory services and professional indemnity insurance.
Experiences and Testimonials
Other attendees shared positive impressions. Arc. Agatha Odigie of ARTEC Practice Ltd said:
“I’ve practiced in Abuja for years but never visited Utopia until today. I was amazed by the affordability and quality of the products. I look forward to doing business with them.”

Arc. Lape Saleh added:
“The products are not only high quality but also reasonably priced. Investing in them is a decision clients won’t regret years down the line.”

Utopia’s Vision for Nigeria
Aftab Ahmed, Chairman of Utopia Bath and Kitchen (Dubai), highlighted the company’s global and African vision:
“Utopia was founded 35 years ago near Birmingham, UK, and we brought the brand to the global stage in 2019. Nigeria became our first African franchise in 2022 thanks to Dr. Lami Ahmed. Today, we’re present in 11 African countries.”

He emphasized that Utopia is committed to quality and affordability:
“We offer lifetime warranties — 25 years on ceramics and 12 years on tapware — without inflating prices. Nigeria is a key market for us, and we’re expanding with showrooms in Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Lagos.”

Local Commitment
Dr. Lami Ahmed, the sole representative of Utopia Bath and Kitchen in Nigeria, described the event as a testament to shared values:
“This partnership with ACANigeria shows our joint commitment to excellence. Architects play a crucial role in guiding developers, so it’s important they know our brand.”

She added that Utopia represents perfection and customer satisfaction:
“We want to make it easier for developers and homeowners to access high-quality, affordable bathroom solutions without the stress of sourcing from abroad. We deliver value, durability, and convenience — right here in Nigeria.”

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Tin City Warms Up for President Tinubu as North Central Embraces Renewed Hope

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2025

The Gleamer

By Sunday Dare

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu berths on the plains and rolling hills that dominate the Jos landscape tomorrow, he will meet a people resourceful, friendly and resilient but weighed down by conflict, yet unbowed by adversity.

So, tommorrow, national attention turns to the Plateau- a locale laden with history and rich with potential. From the tin mines that gave the city of Jos its name, to the Irish potato, strawberry farms and beetroot plantations that dot its landscape, Jos remains a land of promise—truly the Home of Peace and Tourism.

Jos is also deeply woven into Nigeria’s political history. Plateau is home to towering figures such as Generals JD Gomwalk, Yakubu Gowon, John Shagaya, Joshua Dogoyaro, and Jerry Useni. Solomon Lar, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and numerous others also stand tall in the annals Plateau political history.

Jos was also the rallying ground of the famed Langtang Mafia—a group of influential military officers from Langtang in Plateau State who, at the height of their power, played a significant role in Nigeria’s political and military affairs.

The story of Jos is both exciting and excruciating. The city lost its innocence some two and a half decades ago, when the popular Terminus Market was reduced to rubble through acts of arson and looting.

Thus at the turn of the millennium by 2001, Jos—and by extension, Plateau—was thrown into a cycle of unending conflict. Ethnic tensions, clothed in religious garb, tore through the city and spread across the state, dragging Jos into an abyss of violence, almost of Kigali proportions. Peace gave way to war, and tourism jaunts became undertakings to the undertaker.

Yet Jos has never surrendered. Every time it is written off, it rises again—scarred, but resilient. With its multi-ethnic, multi-religious fabric, the Plateau continues to trudge on in pursuit of peace, development, and egalitarian ideals.

It was here, in Jos, that Nigeria’s democratic resurgence was birthed. The historic SDP convention, where late General Shehu Yar’Adua and Chief Moshood Abiola held sway, took place in this city. Jos gave political life to Abiola, our hero of democracy in 1992

Now, thirty three years later, another hero of democracy and of the June 12 struggle returns to the Plateau. President Tinubu’s return and visit to Plateau State is not just to honor the transition to glory of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of the APC National Chairman.

It is a visit that carries deeper meaning—one of empathy, solidarity, and renewed hope for a people who have endured decades of turmoil. It is a mission to preach peace, console the bereaved, bind wounds, and assure Plateau of its central place in the Nigerian project.

Mr President comes not just to mourn, but to reconnect. He comes to parley with the North Central, to commiserate with a people who have suffered, and to extend the hand of renewed hope. That Renewed Hope is laying a solid foundation as evidenced by Naira at N1,455 per dollar, rising Foreign Reserves at $43bn, Trade surplus heading for N25tr. Revenues up 411% and Inflation down to about 20 per cent. Over 600,000 students benefiting from NELFUND.

This visit is more than ceremonial. It is a journey into the very soul of a people who have known pain, yet remain resilient; a land scarred by conflict, yet still brimming with hope and promise. As the Tin City opens its arms, Jos will not just receive the President—it will receive a message of solidarity, healing, and renewal.

Tomorrow is about remembering the glorious past, confronting the present, and charting a path to a peaceful and prosperous Plateau within a united Nigeria. With President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Jos once again stands at the intersection of history and destiny.

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