Nigerian Institute of Building lists areas of focus in 2022

By Grace Alegba

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos Chapter, on Saturday gave an insight into its areas of focus in 2022.

It said it would focus on capacity building of its members towards pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for affordable, accessible mass housing.

Honourary Secretary (HS), NIOB, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Abiodun Ogundare, during the association’s end-of-year strategy meeting/party in Lagos, said the shelter is important.

Ogundare said this informed the institute’s plan to support the government to achieve its mass housing drive.

He said most of the SDGs focused on infrastructure development and were tied to the construction industry

Government, according to him, cannot do it alone except with partnerships.

“As an institute, shelter is a concern for us; in 2022 we will be more strategic in ensuring that housing is available for all,” he said.

Ogundare said that NIOB, Lagos Chapter, had entered an agreement with some housing cooperatives to offer free supervision during the execution of their housing projects in 2022.

This, he said, was a way to contribute to quantity durable construction.

He said that NIOB would collaborate with some groups towards achieving Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Ogundare listed the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Non-Governmental Organisations and other construction stakeholders among such groups.

The secretary commended the Lagos State Government for its ongoing affordable and accessible mass housing drive in line with the SDGs.

He, however, lamented gaps in the government’s collaboration with builders in the area of regulation.

According to him, there are five important documents called the ”Builders Document” needed in quality building production management captured in the revised Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) laws but are not being properly implemented.

He called on building regulatory agencies in Lagos State to increase collaboration with NIOB to guarantee quality assurance in building construction.

This, he said, would help to avert future dangers associated with not building right.

“For us to capture in the year 2022, we want to increase capacity building for our members because we find out that competence with skills will promote the availability of our members.

“It is one thing to have other resources towards mass housing like the land and funding. What about the manpower?

“So, we are positioning our members for the year 2022 such that their competencies match with global standards, that is why we are having the mind mapping strategy today,” he said.

Earlier, while making a slide presentation, Ogundare reeled out achievements of 2021 and targets for years 2022 and 2023.

He enumerated strategies for harnessing the skills of members as well as welfare and mental health programs, as well as plans for completion of its proposed permanent Secretariat and other capital projects.

He explained to members the rationale for planned short-term investments in agriculture while reading out names of new committee members to help drive NIOB visions in 2022.

The chapter Chairman, Mr. Lucky Isename, solicited the support of members towards achieving the laudable projects.

He pledged to address concerns of members to invest in real estate instead of agriculture.

The chairman said that the corporate strategy by the institute was to evolve clear, defined long-term visions to create value and motivate members towards synergy for achieving collective goals.

NIOB members in attendance took turns to make suggestions on how to ensure synergy towards moving the institute forward.

The guest speaker, Mr. Jide Ologun, while delivering a lecture tagged “Corporate Strategy, Structure and Mind Mapping for 2022” took members through slide presentations on how to achieve a “success attitude”.

Ologun pointed out that a wrong attitude could frustrate any laudable vision.