Samuel Oboh

Sam Oboh is the first Canadian of African descent to be elected as president of this Canadian Royal Institute - a feat that the erstwhile director of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University - Ottawa, the late professor Pius Adesanmi described as "a history-making event on many fronts." In 2021, at the Rio General Assembly, Oboh was elected as the Vice President for Region 3 of the Paris-based International Union of Architects (UIA) - a body recognized by the United Nations, working to unify architects, influence public policies, and advance architecture to serve the needs of society. Oboh, a 2024 recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects at an investiture ceremony held in New York on June 22, 2018. The citation read at the investiture ceremony noted that "Oboh exemplifies the ideals of stewardship excellence by intensifying public advocacy - inspiring diversity, promoting good design and championing transformative initiatives for public good." With his investiture, Oboh qualified to use the FAIA designation. Only about 3% of architects in the United States of America have this unique distinction.