Operatives recommend improved training, efficiency in construction industry

The Chief Executive Officer, Construction Kaiser Limited, Mr. Igbuan Okaisabor, has said there is need for cultural change, and improved training in the construction industry to advance quality management in project delivery

He said this at a roundtable discussion tagged: ‘Enhancing quality management in project delivery’, organised by ArchVision Workgroup in Lagos. The forum examined critical issues such as ongoing skills shortages, quality process and procedures in construction, monitoring and control systems, talent management, attrition, retention and cost of quality.

Okaisabor said to halt inefficiency in project delivery, professionals must imbibe right attitude as construction workers’ culture impact on quality of projects.

“Foreign artisans deliver good jobs because they grew up to always deliver quality projects. Quality must be a culture and unless there is cultural change, we might continue to import artisans. We need training in the construction sector and developing our talents,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer/Lead Consultant, ArchVision Workgroup, Mr. Odunayo Lawani, said the construction industry in Nigeria requires a new dawn, as quality management issue have become a topical matter in the construction industry.

He noted that there is acute skill shortage in the construction industry, which is not emphasised today because of the economic lull, adding that once there is a boom, there might be a crisis of skilled workforce.

Lawani said: “It will become evident because there is so much construction work to be done by companies but few artisans will be available due to mass migration of workforce abroad. Not only the medical field or the bank sector is affected by migration but it is not evident in the construction industry presently.”

He said the potential of the industry has not been promoted enough, stressing that operatives must project its values and make it attractive to younger generations who are still in school, otherwise they may finish school and decide to leave the country.

He added: “The general culture in the country is that we don’t give attention to details in project delivery and being impatient with work. This is affecting the industry and one of the things to do differently is for companies in the industry to do something different by training staff in the right culture that gives attention to details and priority to quality management.”

Representative of the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) Mr. Olusesan Phillips, said the institute would continue to increase advocacy especially regarding the skilled professionals leaving the country. He said the institute has been organising workshop and seminars to make sure that as skilled professionals are leaving, they are replaced.

Olusesan said NIOB has stepped up its membership drive, train new members and ensure that anyone sent out for construction work are competent builders.

A partner at Consultants Collaborative Partnership (CCP), ‘Diran Akerele, said the problem in the construction sector comes in two forms; internal and external, adding that stakeholders like the government and regulatory agencies can also affect the growth of building industry.

Akerele, an architect, said: “If you don’t have the right people from the schools, it will affect the growth of the industry and the quality of works produced. Some companies are frustrated because while they train some people, the beneficiaries end up leaving the company. The industry has to stand out, speak out and move close to the source of talent, which is the school.”

On his part, an architect with Building Design Workshop Nigeria Limited, Mr. Oludayo Uansohia, stressed that it is evident that there is workforce migration in the country. However, he said there was need to focus on available workforce, encourage them to join the construction industry, provide adequate training and remuneration for them.