Members of the Nigerian Institute of Building have stated that to address the country’s housing deficit, about five to 10 million artisans are needed in key areas in the next 20 years.

Those who spoke at the NIOB Lagos Chapter’s conference and Annual General Meeting noted that the importation of skilled labour should be checked if the nation must meet housing needs.

The Project Director, Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Project, Anthony Okwa, who spoke on the need for vocational training as the bedrock for housing and infrastructural development, said artisans should be considered as critical to any nation’s development.

“People must, therefore, be encouraged to developed interest in technical and vocational education,” he said.

According to him, the high rate of unemployment presents an opportunity for the youth to acquire the necessary skills in construction.

Okwa said there were positions in many organisations taken up by foreigners due to lack of necessary skills and qualifications by Nigerians to perform in those roles.

He said, “Many construction workers are retiring and the industry is also losing out to competing sectors where work is more stable and the pay more competitive. It is important that we invest in training people, particularly the youth, who will be dedicated to the development, design and implementation of engineering and technology projects for the built industry.

“In order to salvage Nigeria from its decaying infrastructure and huge housing deficit, all relevant stakeholders, including the federal and other arms of government, construction companies, real estate developers, professional bodies and trade associations must invest more resources in vocational training to boost the number, competence and quality of manpower for the construction industry.”

He said the National Vocational Qualification Framework approved by the government should be adopted for certification of skills, adding that professional builders had significant roles to play in the process.

The President, NIOB, Mr. Tijani Shuaib, said skills acquisition and vocational training in the built industry had become crucial.

Shuaib, who was represented by the 2nd Vice President of the institute, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said the NIOB had been recognised as a certificate awarding body by the National Board for Technical Education for the certification of artisans.

“An assessment and certification board has also been inaugurated by the institute comprising its experienced and senior members,” he said.

The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, NIOB, Mrs. Adenike Said, noted that members of the institute would continue to play their role as professionals at the centre of building construction in accordance with the body’s mission to enable members deliver sustainable shelter to address the housing needs of the country through research, development and global best practices.

 PUNCH.