Building collapse: LafargeHolcim to train builders, artisans
LafargeHolcim says it has developed a technical training programme for members of the Nigerian Institute of Building and construction artisans to enable them acquire relevant skills to check the menace of building collapse in the country.
The representative of the company, Tope Arowolo, who spoke at the 45th Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting of the NIOB held at the University of Ibadan, advocated standards regulation, skills development and entrepreneurship in the construction industry, while also blaming building collapse on lack of skills and the use of sub-standard building materials.
Arowolo said that research had shown that cement standard was not responsible for building collapse.
He said, “I want to debunk the impression that cement is the cause of building collapse; cement is not and LafargeHolcim is known for quality. What causes building collapse most of the time is the usage of sub-standard materials and poor construction skills among the artisans.
“That is why one of the topics that we are discussing at this forum is safety and training of artisans. LafargeHolcim, in collaboration with the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria and the Industrial Training Fund, is training artisans in all the geo-political zones of the country.
“We have trained 2,000 artisans because they are very important in the construction and building industry. We need to train as many artisans as possible in order to check building collapse in Nigeria. Lafarge is rolling out many training programmes for bricklayers and block moulders. We are also collaborating with Shelter Watch on skill acquisition.”
The President, NIOB, Tunde Lasaki, urged builders not to shy away from performing their duty of supervising artisans who were important partners in the industry.
“We have gone round the country and found out that poor skills and inadequate training are some of the things that cause building collapse. The National Building Code, 2006 states that supervision of artisans rest on the shoulders of builders and we have to train the people,” Lasaki said.
PUNCH.
