Understanding Building Structures by Architecture Students: An Antidote to Collapse of Buildings in Nigeria

The rate at which buildings collapsed in Nigeria is alarming and worrisome. There is no collapsed building in the country without casualties such as lost of lives, properties and resources. There are many factors that are responsible for this occurrence and one of these factors is lack of better understanding of Building structures by the Architecture students when in school studying Architecture and later become chief Builders, leaders of building construction or project managers when they pass out since it is the accumulated knowledge acquired when in school that will be applied when on site. However, this factor as important as it is totally neglected. The understanding of students in these courses has been observed to be poor and contribute to incessant building collapsed in Nigeria. The study therefore looks at the variables that may assist the Architecture students to understand the courses thoroughly in order to reduce collapsed buildings in Nigeria. The study employed multi – stage sampling procedures, a descriptive survey that involved the use of questionnaire. The research approach adopted for this study was quantitative. Five universities were purposively selected and sampled. Data collected were analysed based on the information obtained from completed questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, Likert scaling, and Chi-square. The result of the analysis revealed the variables that can enhance the students to really understand Building structures very well both in theory and application of knowledge. These include high JAMB score, excellent grades in Mathematics and Physics, attending classes regularly and punctually and create interest in the courses. Possession of relevant textbooks and calculator are compulsory and a must for every student to have so as to solve structural problems that may lead to collapse of buildings in Nigeria, The study concluded that if all these variables are properly addressed, it will assist the students to settle down, concentrate and have in-depth knowledge, better understanding and application of Building structures knowledge in order to reduce incessant collapse of buildings in Nigeria.