Architecture as a tool to rebrand Gown and Town socioeconomics through Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs): Advancing Sustainable Plastic Waste Management using the Afe Babalola University Model

The intersection of architecture and public–private partnerships (PPPs) presents a powerful approach to

address pressing environmental and socioeconomic issues. At Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), plastic waste

management has evolved and is still evolving into a model that not only advances sustainability, job creation and

community resilience but also supports town and gown relations. This research explores how architecture can rebrand

town and gown socioeconomics using the Afe Babalola University model through Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs),

with emphasis on skill development and sustainable plastic waste management. The research adopts a mixed-

methods approach, combining literature review, interviews with university and community stakeholders and field

observations. It further investigates how PPPs and architectural intervention initiatives can reinforce collaborations,

support circular economy practices and promote green skill development. The results show that architecture, when

integrated into PPP frameworks, serves as both a physical and figurative bridge, enabling the creation of waste-to-

resource hubs that encourage recycling, training and entrepreneurship. The paper posits that gown and town relations,

which describe the interaction between the university and its host community, are pivotal for addressing common

socio-environmental and socio-economic challenges such as plastic pollution and unemployment respectively. The

study concludes that architecture can play a transformative role in repositioning ABUAD as a catalyst for sustainability,

innovation and community empowerment in Nigeria.