Aisha Abubakar

I graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Nigeria, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Architectural Design. My dissertation topic was centred on exploring Eco-Architecture to promote local tourism in Nigeria.

However, it was in the course of research for my thesis towards a MEPP award (master in environmental planning and protection) from the University of Abuja in 2013 that I came to comprehend some of the varied dynamics at play in slum communities. This exercise also informed me of the potential to improve institutional capacities towards engaging slums in contributing to peoples’ (and consequently) cities’ wellbeing.

Slum urbanism has become a consistent yet evolving urban pattern in Developing Region cities.  

My research here at Strathclyde builds from over 10 years in architectural practice and public service. My research interest is in resilient approaches to sustainable urban development and prosperity with an emphasis on vulnerable communities. I am particularly interested in refining ways to, simply and innovatively, improve our cities and integrated vulnerable and slum communities in parallel with prosperity, while also fulfilling the broad principles of the SDGs. My work and research currently focus on in-depth place (slums) assessment and characterization via cognitive aspects of spaces, and on building appropriately targeted, dynamic, and collaborative intervention sequences that enhance prosperity. It also focuses on how social network analysis tools and methods can be applied to enhance the efficiency of such processes. I also have a strong interest in people-environment interactions, community participation in theory and practice, and exploring ways that urban design and planning can reach out to other disciplines to build robust and dynamic theoretical platforms to guide practical actions and interpretations.