Africa & Middle East Symposium – Salutogenesis and Healthy Cities Design Philosophical and Conceptual Framework

Design and Health in Africa:

Global Perspectives and local identities in healthy cities design

Hosted by the University of Abuja on the 30th of October 2019. The International Academy for Design and Health (IADH), Africa and Middle East Chapter brought together academics, health professionals, architects, interior designers, engineers, real estate developers, environmentalists, university students and many more in the 2019 Design and health Conference themed, “Design and Health in Nigeria – Salutogenic Design Principles”.

The conference had the presence of top academia, international consultants and researchers as keynote speakers – Architect Amos Alao a researcher and practitioner of Therapeutic, Biophilic and Xerophylic Landscape ideologies, Prof.Dr. Peter Neuer is a researcher, medical consultant, an academia and Dr.Innocent Okpanum, a researcher, Urban designer, and well known Architect.

The representative of the vice chancellor of the University, the Director of the Office Development and Advancement Prof. Ubom Bassey was at hand to give a remark on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and officially kick off the conference.

The importance of our environment and  it’s effects on well being was shared, an ever revealing message with profound importance to health. The Speakers highlighted different topics on design, salutogenic principles and health basing their points on salutogenic designs to a very engaging and attentive audience. The message was well received.

At the conclusion of the event, participants were engaged in an open session to make contributions and ask questions. It was evident that living healthy lifestyle in healthy environment or salutogenic environment is of great interest in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and there is a willingness to use the salutogenic approach in design of the environment.