The 5th edition of Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall of Fame and Construction Technology Development Forum was held on the 27th of September 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. The theme of the event centred around innovations, technology, and industry, titled ‘Accelerating Wide-Scale Technology and Innovation Adoption in the Energy Market’. The sub-theme was ‘Implementing Digital Disruption and Capacity Building Effectively In The Built Environment’ and In attendance were dignitaries, speakers, well-wishers, and the media.
The program was put together to induct into Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall of Fame 2019, professionals who have merited it based on their contributions and impact in their various fields. This event is held bi-annually.
Arc. Mrs Mobolaji Adeniyi who is the third vice president of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) eased us into a mentally stimulating conversation on digital disruption, its accompanying benefits and how they can be incorporated into the architectural industry to produce tremendous results. She urged key players in this sector to let go of the traditional methods that have without doubt become obsolete and embrace the change that has come to stay, no matter how difficult or disruptive it might appear. Her presentation concluded with her encouraging key players and industry experts to use materials that can be easily sourced locally to reduce importation while ensuring that they are responsible in the way these products are acquired. She posed the introspective and rhetorical question “are we prepared to compete on an international play-ground?”, to do so we must ensure that we move with the rest of the world.
The Commissioner for Works, Cross-River State, Hon. Engr. Dane Osim-Asu, presented a case study on the approach used by Cross-River state to champion sustainable construction projects from inception to execution to completion. He stressed on the need for other states to incorporate the model been used by the government of Cross River State which is the ‘Modified Direct Labour Model’ that enables the government to directly carry-out projects in collaboration with service providers, instead of awarding contracts to independent bidders. These service providers are made up of contractors, suppliers, amongst others, and this method enables the conceptualization of projects even in the face of limited resources. Other benefits include cost-effectiveness, efficiency in providing deliverables, eliminating issues of communities requesting compensations when projects need to be done in such areas by ensuring that a sense of ownership is fostered with them first. Fiscal transparency and accountability are necessary for good governance and it should be imbibed, especially when it comes to carrying out state projects and incurring expenditures.
The final speech was given on subject matter titled ‘Accelerating Wide-Scale Technology and Innovation Adoption in the Energy Market’ by Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele. He emphasized on the need for grassroots interventions if we want to see such levels of solutions implemented. The need for training and realistic solutions to the existing crisis and not the other way around are the steps that need to be taken. He urged those in strategic positions in government to do the needful and not carry on with business-as-usual as they need to identify those distressing situations first in their regions before they can talk about saving Nigeria as a whole – charity begins at home.
The event was brought to a close with the decoration ceremony of the 2019 inductees and among them was the highly esteemed Otunba, Builder, Fatai I. Oshikoya, the first builder in Nigerian who would also be turning 92, in a few months.
