Muyiwa Oki is a Nigeria-born British architect who, in September 2023, took office as the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), becoming the first black president and, at 32, its youngest.

Career

Born in Nigeria,[1] Oki studied architecture at the University of Sheffield.[2] After graduating, he worked for Glenn Howells Architects on Birmingham residential projects then moved to London to work at Grimshaw Architects,[2] first on the rebuild of London's Euston station to receive the HS2 high-speed railway line,[1] then on the North London Heat and Power project in Edmonton.[2] While at Grimshaw, he founded a multi-ethnic group and allies network.[3]

He is currently employed by construction consultancy Mace Group.[1] He is also an ambassador for the Mayor of London's Design Future London challenge.[4]

RIBA president

Oki's 2022 campaign to become RIBA president was supported by a Just Transition Lobby movement backed by the Future Architects Front (FAF), the Section of Architectural Workers (SAW),[3] and the institute's Future Architects Steering Group.[5]

The RIBA had been accused of institutional racism,[6] of having a "deep, systemic disengagement from the membership", and of lacking transparency.[7] In March 2022, young architects began a campaign to get the next RIBA president to move beyond "empty slogans and self-serving initiatives" and shake up an institute seen as "out of touch" with the wider profession.[8] The campaign included members of FAF, and Oki was named as their preferred candidate on 6 May 2022,[5] declaring "There needs to be a mind-shift in the architecture profession. We need to energise ourselves and create a platform where under-represented members can be heard."[9] Days later, the RIBA announced a restriction on new members participating in the elections (starting on 28 June 2022), a rule change described by the FAF as "an outrageous lack of transparency" and "exclusionary tactics".[10] Nonetheless, in August 2022, Oki was elected to be the next RIBA president from September 2023.[11][4][12]

In October 2022, Oki outlined a three-point agenda, including mandating paid overtime for RIBA chartered practices, introducing quarterly 'town halls' to engage RIBA members in key decisions, and prioritising the climate emergency in everything the RIBA does.[2] In the same month, he also supported Eleni Kyriacou, who in 2021 exposed a decades-old culture of bullying at the Bartlett School of Architecture, by wearing one of her garment designs to the Stirling Prize ceremony at the RIBA.[13]

He took office on 1 September 2023, becoming both the youngest and first black president of the RIBA,[3] a body which had previously had only three female presidents and one non-white president (Sunand Prasad).[2] Upon taking office, Oki said he intended to continue to press for more diversity and inclusivity within architecture,[14] saying "a diversity of people" are needed "to solve the big issues of the day",[1] and committed to pressing the UK government to deliver a national retrofit strategy, pledging "to be a steadfast advocate for decarbonising the built environment."[3] He also urged architects to help deliver better UK social housing.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Moore, Rowan (27 August 2023). "Architect Muyiwa Oki: 'We need a diversity of people to solve the big issues of the day'". Observer. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Wainwright, Oliver (12 October 2022). "'Our time has come' – Muyiwa Oki, first black president of RIBA, reveals his shakeup plans". Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Spocchia, Gino (1 September 2023). "New RIBA president Muyiwa Oki to 'put pressure' on government on retrofit". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 Finney, Alice (2 August 2022). "Muyiwa Oki elected first Black president of the RIBA". Dezeen. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 Waite, Richard (6 May 2022). "'Architect worker' chosen to challenge for RIBA presidency". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Topping, Alexandra (9 August 2018). "New RIBA president elected amid row over silencing of black architect". Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Johar, Indy (26 August 2021). "The RIBA needs systemic change if presidents' promises are to mean anything". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Jessel, Ella (23 March 2022). "Young architects bid to elect 'drama-free' worker as RIBA president". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Lowe, Tom (20 June 2022). "Interview | Muyiwa Oki: 'There was this opportunity to actually do the things that I want. And I thought this opportunity might not come again'". Building Design. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Ing, Will (12 May 2022). "RIBA presidential election: rule change blocks new members from voting". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Waite, Richard (2 August 2022). "'Architect worker' Muyiwa Oki wins RIBA presidential election". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Hickman, Matt (2 August 2022). "Muyiwa Oki elected as the next president of RIBA". Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Crook, Lizzie (7 November 2022). "Eleni Kyriacou captures experience of trauma and Bartlett activism in Time to Rebuild collection". Dezeen. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Fox, Aine (1 September 2023). "More diversity is needed in architecture, says body's first Black president". Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Newman, Cathy (31 August 2023). "Social housing crisis: 'Get architects on board', says RIBA President". Channel Four News. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
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