Akin Afolayan

AKIN AFOLAYAN, Since he began studying architecture, Akin Afolayan always had an itch to use his design skills to meet the development challenges of impoverished countries. He studied architecture in Nigeria at the Akintola University of Technology, then earned a masters in architecture from Florida A&M University where he specialized in sustainable design and appropriate development in informal settlements. He later went on to earn an MBA from Georgia State University Atlanta.  In 2008, as founder of the Hope Builds Initiative, he started designing floating structures for the hundreds of thousands of people living in makeshift settlements in the tidal areas of Lagos, Nigeria, a mega-city of more than 10 million people. The “amphibious” homes, floating on foam blocks but tied to posts driven into the ground, were meant to replace wooden stilt houses that couldn’t rise or fall with changing water levels. Mr. Folayin went on to receive numerous awards such as the Holcim Awards For Sustainable Construction “Next Generation” 1st prize 2008 Africa Middle East, ARCC / KING Student Medal For Excellence In Architectural + Environmental Design Research 2007, Florida A&M University’s Inaugural 40 under 40 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Recipient 2010. M. Afolyain has consulted with organizations such as World Affairs Council of Atlanta, Niles Bolten & Associates, and is now a senior engineer at Global/Structural/Thermal Worldwide Engineering Services, Texas.