In 1989, with Arc. Frank Mbanefo as President and Arc. Justus Okah-Avae as Honorary General Secretary / Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Institute of Architects introduced Archibuilt to promote building materials and construction technology in Nigeria. The format was to hold annual exhibitions, conferences and seminars with the ultimate aim of producing a Compendium of building materials available to the building and construction industry in Nigeria.

Through the efforts of Arc. Justus Okah-Avae who was the Chairman and Arc. Jimoh Faworaja who was the Secretary of the Archibuilt Inaugural Committee, the first Exhibition was held in August, 1989. Over the following 23 years, Archibuilt has grown in scope and complexion; the venue has also shifted from Lagos where it started. In 2012, the Nigerian Institute of Architects decided to create a definite identity for Archibuilt in order to further enhance its original ideals.

Consequently, Archibuilt Development Services Limited was set up and registered to acquire all the interests of Archibuilt of N.I.A.

• To carry out the business of research & promotions on local building materials, and to organize seminars to enlighten the public and stake holders in the building and construction industries on the results of these researches.
• To publish and regularly update an ARCHIBUILT compendium of building materials, technologies and services; and to develop a standard Format for Specification Writing to be used by architects in Nigeria.
• To undertake training, skill acquisition, accreditation and certification of buIn setting up the company, the Institute gave it the following mandate:
• To carry out the income-generating business of regular exhibition of building and construction materials, technologies and services - ARCHIBUILT.
• To promote greater participation by the organized private sector and NGOs in housing delivery.
• To promote the adoption of green built environments, by regular publishing of the results of research in green technologies from other parts of the world.
• To carry out the business of exposition through the media.
• To develop Archibuilt website into a credible tool of information dissemination and marketing of Archibuilt products, services and specifications. To give the website the capacity to handle mails for all architects and professionals in the Built environment in the country, in order to further promote the NIA brand.
• To carry out the business of developing and management of a permanent Archibuilt Expo Centre.
• To invest in Real Estate development. and management in any city in Nigeria adjudged by the Board as profitable to make such investments.
• To carry out business of importation of building materials, particularly those materials that promote the erection of tropically friendly buildings.
• To export locally produced materials in order to promote the Nigerian Brand.