Laughter is the Best Medicine 70

The web-based database software (WBDBS) developed offers many advantages relative to standalone desktop software. These include cost savings, improved efficiency and employee productivity, better communications and coordination of efforts within the project and enhanced data security. The WBDBS requires no initial capital investment to buy software for a number of individual desktops. There is no software to download or install on site. The cost is incurred as the service is used, preserving scarce cash to be used more productively within the project for more critical needs. The browser-based approach provides greater flexibility, enabling the project to scale up or down quickly and easily as needs change. Both initial and ongoing maintenance cost savings are realized with the online approach. In fact, all the maintenance costs are avoided because maintenance is taken care of by the provider.

It provides the opportunity to work at any location at any time. Many of the applications can be used on the most inexpensive PCs, unlike desktop software that requires hard drive capacity. The ability to work anywhere at any time and communicate with project managers and project engineers can be a great productivity enhancer. The most important feature of WBDBS is accountability, being able to monitor all the aspects during construction.

OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FACULTY

• Accreditation by National Universities Commission and Professional Accreditation The Departments of Architecture, Estate Management and Quantity Surveying were assessed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the respective professional accreditation bodies; and all have been granted FULL ACCREDITATION STATUS.

• The Architects Colloquium For the first time, BAZE University was represented by the students and staff in the Annual Architects Colloquium. This is a premier event for Architects where all cadre of the profession meet to share innovation, policy, and showcase works and achievements. The students from the Architecture Department, BAZE University presented their works and it attracted favorable comments from seasoned professionals including the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

*Prof. Bala MUHAMMAD is the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences