African countries are consistently trying to leverage industrialization to advance their economic development. Despite possessing favorable factors such as abundant natural resources, a surplus of low-cost labor, and an increasing number of established Special Economic Zones (SEZs), African countries are yet to fully maximize their potential and achieve sustainable and inclusive industrialization. This study explores the comparative advantages of African countries to determine the types of SEZs that can effectively accelerate industrialization. By leveraging the unique strengths and resources of each country, customized strategies for SEZs can be developed to attract investments, promote technological advancements, and foster sustainable economic growth. The research utilizes the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) matrix, which is grounded in Ricardian trade theory, examining trade data spanning from 2011 to 2021 to evaluate the competitive export capabilities of various countries. The findings consistently reveal that the selected countries (Ghana, Ethiopia, and South Africa) possess a significant and consistent comparative advantage in natural and agricultural resources compared to other sectors. Establishing SEZs that focus on these sectors can generate substantial socio-economic impacts, including attracting investments, creating employment opportunities, enhancing export capacities, stimulating economic growth, fostering linkages, facilitating skills and technology transfer, promoting spillover effects, encouraging specialization, developing infrastructure, and supporting value addition in agribusinesses. The result of this study will contribute to policy discussions and aid decision-making processes for policymakers, investors, and development practitioners in their efforts to advance industrial development across Africa.

Nigeria, a country located in the Western part of Africa has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states over the millennia and is divided in to Northern and Southern parts with the Hausa-Fulani's, a diverse but culturally homogeneous people living in the northern part of Nigeria. The vernacular architecture of the Northern Nigeria (VANN) is perhaps one of the least known but most beautiful of the medieval age, over the centuries a tradition of fine architecture has flourished in the area, the variety and quality of buildings are bound to generate much delight and enthusiasm in anyone who is interested in buildings. Many of their early buildings such as mosques and palaces are bright and colorful. This architectural style is known as Tubali which means the traditional architecture in the Hausa language and globally known as Vernacular Architecture (VA). VANN has many unique features which distinguish it from any other architecture. All buildings, be it modern or old has an impact on the environment; hence the need for sustainable measures and practices regarding such buildings. The aim of this research paper is to examine the features of VANN in the light of sustainability. Reviewed literatures were used to identify the various features of the Vernacular Architecture in the Northern Nigeria which were critically examined in the light of sustainability and its concept. The result showcased the various features of VANN in the light of sustainability and also discussed the factors hindering the sustainable endeavors of VANN with respect to such features.

Sustainable development is means to balance the needs of the present and future generations without compromise. However, achieving such a feat may be less challenging for developed countries, but it is a big challenge and more complicated for developing countries like Nigeria, located in West Africa. Nigeria’s population is about 200million and growing, which comes with its prospects, needs, and challenges such as the need for more infrastructure and industries to reduce poverty and create more employment opportunities. Other challenges include addressing housing shortages, disposal of domestic and industrial wastes, curbing industrial pollutions, providing cleaner and drinking water for domestic purposes, need for more power supply, increased food, material production, and consumptions etc. altogether, they must be within a balanced ecosystem and environmentally sustainable biodiversity within the built environment. This paper assessed and discussed the determinant factors related to sustaining sustainable development in Nigeria to offer more insight into such factors, paving ways of addressing such issues. A sequential mixed methodology was adopted in the study to collect and analyze the data on such factors. The results show that Stakeholders Awareness and Interests; Funding; Policy framework, Infrastructure project planning, and execution; corruption were among the most significant impact factors that sustained Nigeria’s built environment’s sustainable developments. Depending on the project type, such factors can promote or hinder sustainable developments in the built environment based on their levels of impacts.

Sustainable development encompasses all the efforts to balance both the present and future generations’ needs without compromise by making important and wiser decisions. However, achieving such a feat may be less complicated for some developed countries, but it is a dilemma and more complicated for developing countries like Nigeria, whose population is increasing annually. Every population growth comes with its prospects, needs, and challenges. These include the need for investments, economic diversification, and upgrading various industries to compete globally, poverty eradication, creating more employment opportunities, increasing income and wealth to the population and the government. These are often more prioritized than avoiding adverse effects on the environment when infrastructural projects become the medium for such. Hence, this paper was structured to identify, review and discuss the conundrum that leads to paradoxical issues about socio-economics of a sustainable built environment from developing countries with Nigeria as a focal point. A desk research methodology was adopted in the study, and the results show the relationship between socio-economic pressures and targets of developing countries with the SDGs targets for sustainable development within the built environment.