AISHA JANKI AKINOLA

Portrait courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola

Aisha grew up from a low income family, challenging the stereotypes she was faced with and pursued her dreams determined, dedicated and disciplined. Her dream of becoming an architect turned into a reality as she was able to win a fully funded scholarship to study architecture at the top ranked University of Edinburgh. She created a YouTube platform (Aisha Janki) to share her story and experiences navigating her complex identities. In the near future, she hopes to design the next iconic building in Africa while inspiring the next generation of black/female/Muslim architects to believe in the fact that their dreams and identities are valid too regardless.

If you were to describe yourself using one word - what would it would be?

An Outlier.
According to Google, an outlier is a “person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set,” and this pretty much sums up the story of my life. I was born and brought up in Sokoto State in far northern Nigeria to Yoruba parents who emigrated there from Southern Nigeria. Growing up, I constantly felt different both in the way I acted, the way I thought and the things I said. I left Nigeria and I went to Ghana to study and again I was reminded of how different I was. Again, I left and this time I came to the UK and guess what, I officially became an outlier. I am Black, a Muslim and a woman in the architecture world and this is my story.

Site Visits to El-Calanyal, Valencia. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

Across LinkedIn, we were moved and inspired by your shine of confidence! Being in architecture, where did you grow your confidence? How did you maintain it?

Firstly, I would start by taking you back to when I was not confident. When I was younger, I had difficulties in speaking as I stammered, and this greatly stunted my confidence. I avoided any form of public speaking activities as I was scared of taking the risk and trying. Fast forward a two years ago, I overcame that seemingly impossible challenge and I am now a poet, a presenter, a motivational speaker and a public speaker.

How?

I will tell you a story. I was in my senior year of high school and I happened to have been selected as the president for a society and hence I had to present a speech to a large audience of students. I had reached the dead end as I had no choice but to present on that stage. I got on the state on that fateful day and I vividly remember trembling and feeling extremely nervous. As I started speaking my voice cracked, my feet’s trembled and I stuttered. It was an awful experience in my opinion but it was the beginning of a burning passion within me to work towards becoming better at speaking.

Moral of story: I started trying to be confident when I spoke and I recon it is because of that deliberate effort that I put in, that I am able to speak in the public and have a long lasting impact on my listeners.

Being the outlier that I am, it is pertinent that I have a great deal of confidence in myself and my abilities to be able to successfully navigate this world. I have developed a “Can Do” attitude to work.

Lastly, I would add that there are times when I run out of confidence and the nervousness step in again but ultimately that positive attitude always kicks in and rescues me from drowning in self-loathing.

Aisha presenting. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

First semester 2nd Year Group Work Pin Up. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

Who do you look up to in terms of architecture and in general?

I would say I am inspired by many people in the architecture field who are continuously striving for excellence and positive impact. However, I am much more drawn towards architects who are considered outliers or minorities in the field. Some names that come to mind include, David Adjei, Elsie Owusu, Lesley Lokko and many more.

Field trip to Gregorio Mayans Social Sciences Library in Valencia. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

What is your experience with attending school from Edinburgh, but originating from Nigeria?

It was really strange and new for me at the start of my first year as there was so much catching up I needed to do in order to work at the same pace as my classmates, who most definitely had prior experience studying a design course in high school. It was really bad that at some point I was getting flashbacks to the advice someone gave me not to pursue an architecture education in the UK since the context is totally different.

My journey into architecture school could be described as unusual. I studied A levels Math’s, Further Mathematics and Physics which are all science and math’s heavy courses.

Site visits to El-Cabanyal, Valencia. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

What is your experience in architecture school in terms of recognition and mentorship?

I feel alienated.

Moving to Edinburgh to start my undergraduate education, I realized I was no longer simply Aisha the aspiring architect, I was now Aisha the Black Muslim Woman architect because it was just me. There wasn’t a Black tutor to talk to, more a Muslim tutor. Each time I explained my design concepts during a critique, I had to try harder to make them understand where I was coming from. It was simply a roller coaster ride for me all along. It is important to note however, that I have benefited from this challenge because I have been able to build a diverse group of friends who have a common values and principles as I do. I have worked with people who I struggled to understand at first and now we are jolly good friends. I just wish the system made it easier for people like me.

Aisha with her friend and colleague at a construction site.-Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

You’re very active on social media (LinkedIn, and now YouTube), how did it all start?

STORY OF LINKEDIN

Put simply, it is all thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a timely intervention that allowed me to revisit some of my goals and work on new ones as well. Stuck in my It is how come I have been able to finally start creating contents on my YouTube channel.

LinkedIn was not a platform I too seriously until recently. On this very day, I was pretty much bored and in the spirit of finding something productive to do with my time, I decided to check out the RIBA website. I came across an article which essentially highlighted Black Architects in the UK and this kind of opened my eyes to the issue of inclusion that is lacking in the architecture career. It kind of explained to me why I have been struggling to find my place all this while also reminding me of the important fact that I cannot afford to give up.

Site model completed by Aisha and Rendered Section from Year 2 design project. -Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

What would be your advice for future students trying to use social media for their advantage?

I would say to go for it!

Social media skills is in demand in whatever field you find yourself in. The ability to communicate one’s thoughts and ideas in written and sometimes verbal format is crucial. Social media allows one to explore a new avenue to express oneself. It can be likened to making a huge statement to future employers who most certainly will conduct a google search on you.

In my experience, LinkedIn and Instagram have proven to be the most relevant ones for creating a professional online presence. The former focuses on the career related aspects allowing you to connect with people and interest with them in a formal environment. The latter gives more room for being informal, allowing you to connect with your followers on a much more personal basis.

Instagram could be used as a visual square-grid folio of your work and LinkedIn could be an online journal with reflections on your career journey recording the successes made, the high and even the lows making sure to highlight the learning points.

Second semester 2nd Year Group Work Pin Up. - Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.

What advice would you give the future generation of women architects?

Dear Queens,

You deserve a seat on that table too and if they forgot to get you a chair, you can easily design yours with all those excellent technical skills you have amassed throughout the lengthy and arduous journey you have had to take towards becoming an architect.

More often than not, female architects are made to feel like they are outliers who chose the wrong degree when they simply want to design buildings as well just like the men. Unfortunately, women have to worry about far more roadblocks as they make their way through the partial system upon which the field of architecture is design. Nevertheless, history has proven that women bring a unique set of perspectives which births innovative and creative solutions to some complex design problems that arises. So, to conclude I would say to the future generation of architects to not forget to ignite that fire within them, use it as a torch to help you navigate this seemingly male dominated field while carry your head up high and smashing all those boring stereotypes about us. Why? Because you earned a place at the table and you sure deserve to sit down comfortably and have your say unapologetically.

Your dreams and identities are valid too because it is a myth that STEM fields are for the men. After all, last time I checked there is enough room at the table for us too. Oh and if you can’t find a seat at the table, create your own.

Aisha presenting during studio critique.- Courtesy of Aisha Janki Akinola.