NIOB to Mentor Younger Builders, Advocates Stage-by-Stage Certification to Curb Building Collapse

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Sir Bldr. Alderton Ewa Ewa, on Wednesday, said the Institute has established the Young Builders Association in order to give needed mentoring and support to aspiring builders and the younger generation of builders in the country.

Alderton, who spoke at a press briefing to discuss the Investiture Ceremony of the 22nd President of the Institute, scheduled for Thursday, 30th November 2023, in Abuja, highlighted the crucial importance of the housing sector in economic development of the country, saying that it has the potential to drive the job creation agenda of the federal government.

Discussing new efforts made to address the challenge of building the collapse in the country, he underscored the importance of cooperation among all professionals in the built environment, stating that they must work in unison at the inception and throughout the project duration to ensure the establishment of a reliable sub-substructure for the building.

He stated: ‘The point I am trying to make is that the various professionals involved in building construction should be called upon at various stages to certify that the materials used are not substandard, and that the building meets the requirement of the industry.’

Alderton, who is a Fellow of the NIOB, stated: ‘I wish to re-emphasize the point that stage-by-stage certification is the key to addressing building collapse in the country’

Discussing the concept of sub-structure, he said: ‘There is what is called “sub structure,” typically, a sub-structure includes foundation to the ground floor level of a building. At this stage, all those who would be involved in the building production would have met to discuss the peculiarity of the project at hand with regard to their respective professional roles.’

According to the President, ‘this includes the structural engineer, architect and the professional builder among other professionals who will ensure that the excavations of the trenches and the entire foundation are well executed in line with safety standards.’

He explained that in advanced societies, a certified professional actually examines the respective stages and appends his signature to a document, indicating that he or she guarantees that the particular aspect of the sub-structure and building meet the minimum standard of his profession.

Discussing the importance of ensuring that artisans in industry are properly trained, the president said: ‘We must also train our artisans because they execute instructions, as such, they are also involved in the construction of a building.’

He expressed concern that improperly trained artisans can cause building collapse because they can mix concrete in the wrong ratio if they are not properly trained.

‘So, under my watch, the NIOB will ensure that artisans are properly trained and we will collaborate with government agencies to boost knowledge and bridge any gap that could lead to shortfall in standard,’ he said, adding that there is also the need to ensure that only standard materials are used in the building process.

He explained that the professional builder is chiefly responsible for the building process. ‘He should be engaged to certify that the various building materials to be used meet quality specifications of the industry,’ adding that the structural engineer should also be invited to certify that the reinforcements are in line with globally accepted standard.

The President expressed concern that the absence of collaborative effort of various built environment professionals is one of the causes of building collapse in Nigeria. He explained that in various ways, this absence leads to the production of substandard houses that have failed to stand the test of time.

He called on real estate developers, corporate entities, and individuals who wish to own their homes and structures to necessarily engage professionals, saying that it will substantially address the challenge of building collapse.