By Angela Atabo
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has called for stronger professional advocacy and greater policy influence by builders and other built-environment professionals to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
President of the NIOB, Daniel Kolade, made the call on Monday ahead of the 56th Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Institute, scheduled to hold from Aug. 18 to Aug. 22 in Abuja.
Kolade said greater involvement of builders in policymaking would promote safe, affordable and sustainable housing delivery across the country.
He described the theme of the conference, “Repositioning the Building Profession: Advocacy and Policy Influence on Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment,” as timely and critical to Nigeria’s development aspirations.
He said the theme underscored the Institute’s collective resolve to ensure that the building profession takes its rightful place in shaping policies, raising professional standards and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
According to him, the expertise and leadership of professional builders are crucial to addressing the nation’s housing challenges.
He stressed that their responsibilities must extend beyond construction to active participation in policy formulation and implementation.
Kolade identified national housing programmes and policies as key areas requiring sustained professional advocacy, alongside the promotion of affordable and quality housing delivery for Nigerians.
He also listed effective enforcement of building regulations and standards, sustainable infrastructure development, skills development, professional training and workforce certification as areas requiring stronger advocacy.
The NIOB president emphasised the importance of collaboration among government, professionals, industry stakeholders and relevant institutions in achieving a safe, affordable and sustainable built environment.
Also speaking on preparations for the conference, Dr Adeshina Aladeloba,
the Institute’s 3rd Vice President and Chairman of the Marketing and Corporate Affairs Committee, said all arrangements had been concluded to host participants and stakeholders.
Aladeloba described the conference as a strategic platform for examining critical issues affecting the building industry, exchanging knowledge and developing practical approaches to reposition the profession and improve housing delivery across the country.
Earlier, the NIOB National Publicity Secretary, Usenobong Atangaedi, said the positive response from builders, corporate organisations and other stakeholders demonstrated growing commitment to advancing advocacy for safe, quality and sustainable housing delivery.
Atangaedi stressed that the need for repositioning should not be confined to the building profession, noting that all professions within the built environment must collectively embrace the required paradigm shift in the construction industry.
He said the challenges confronting Nigeria’s built environment required a collective professional approach involving builders, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, estate surveyors and valuers, planners and other professionals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab