Builders’ body inaugurates new president, to certify 200,000 artisans

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) says that it plans to certify 200,000 artisans and craftsmen under the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) in the next one year.

Mr Shuaib Tijjani Birnin-Kudu made this known after his investiture as the 19th President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, on Friday night in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony also featured the investiture of 13 corporate members into the College of Fellows, while 56 were inducted as corporate members of the institute.

Tijjani said that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had approved the institute to serve as an awarding body for the assessment and certification of artisans and craftsmen.

He explained that the NIOB had developed the National Occupational Standards to facilitate training for the population of construction workers in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation and metal fabrication trades.

According to him, the NQVF will provide opportunity for the unemployed youths to acquire necessary skills for gainful employment in the construction industry.

“This will help drive President Buhari’s quest to stem the influx of this category of workers from foreign countries into the country’s construction sector.

“The NVQF shall be fully established and function in collaboration with the NBTE and relevant sector skills Council in line with the road map for the power, works and housing sector.

“This will pave the way for a law restricting trade practice to only duly certified and registered artisans and craftsmen.

“The Assessment and Certification Board, which we have established, is projected to train, assess and certify 200,000 artisans within the next 12 months and up to two million in the next five years,’’ he said.

He promised that under his leadership, the NIOB was ready to partner all levels of government, the private sector and other stakeholders to achieve the projected generation of 20 million jobs in the construction industry.

In a remark, the Chairman, NIOB College of Fellows, Mr Dachollom Jambol, charged the newly inducted fellows to demonstrate knowledge, integrity and accountability in their role as the “conscience of the institute’’.

“Your new position places on each of you roles and responsibilities of grave enormous importance.

“You are expected to provide leadership, guidance and counseling, being the conscience of the profession and the institute; responsible for its growth and development in all aspects and ramification.

“You must always lead by examples, act guided by knowledge, professional ethics and code of conduct, discharge your responsibilities creditably in the service of our nation, institute and profession,’’ Dalyop advised.

The outgoing president, Mr Tunde Lisabi, while expressing gratitude for the support of members during his two-year tenure, appealed that the same level of cooperation be extended to his successor.

NAN reports that goodwill messages were received from other professional bodies in the building environment, government agencies and the Federation of Construction Industries.