Category: IGennews

At 43, Michael Femi Alley is responsible for various buildings and architectural designs you see in highbrow Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other places yet he goes without attracting attention to himself. Alley is the founder and the principal architect of The Building Practice Ltd.

He attended the Federal Government College Kaduna, graduated from the Federal University of Technology Minna, and the University of Lagos, where he bagged a First-Class Master’s Degree in Environmental Design (M.E.D) in architecture.

Currently undertaking a master’s degree course in Business for Architecture and Design at IE University Madrid, Spain, Alley has made impacts in the industry with about 20 years of in-depth experience in the field of architecture, building construction, green building design, fire safety in buildings project management and interior design.

In this interview, he speaks to i-GEN NEWS team lead, GBENGA BADA on his impact on young Nigerians in the world of architecture.

You look quite youthful. How do you inculcate Nigerian youths into the industry?                                                 

Yes, I am quite youthful as I am 43 years old, I still have a lot of vigour and strength that the demanding construction industry often requires. Over the years I have had interactions with many young people ranging from fresh school leavers in their twenties to those in my age category, from whom I have learnt a lot about the thought process, nuances, drive, passions and behaviour of the younger generation. I see that many young people are interested in the prospects of the industry and so on my part, I ensure to often share my experiences and knowledge with them at every chance that I can, through direct employment opportunities, internships, workshops, university seminars, site visits and tours and direct mentorship. Being an architect, whose profession is daily impacted by technological advancement through the constant upgrade of the softwares that we use and development of construction techniques and continuous reach in materials, young people have a key role to play in the attainment of the dreams that the architectural and engineering professions have to offer because they are usually very conversant with modern technology and filled with the drive to find new and innovative ways of working. I encourage them to use these new techniques to build on the existing available knowledge and chart courses for themselves.

What are your beliefs about the Nigerian youth going into the industry?

Many of the Nigerian youths that I have come across in many fields have so much potential and can change the narrative in our society and so I do what is within my power in the construction industry to help encourage them through exposure to the intricacies of the industry. The construction industry is one which has the potential to uplift the economic status of many Nigerians cutting across the formal and informal sectors of our economy and so the youths of this country are encouraged to get involved in diverse fields through active participation in architecture, structural/civil engineering, MEP engineering, quantity surveying, building construction, project management, interior design, landscape architecture, smart buildings techniques, supply of materials, graphics and animations, lighting design, acoustic design real estate developments, plumbing, HVAC, electrical works, welding, carpentry etc. With these skills they can be better positioned to harness the benefits of the fast growing and resilient industry which has a huge capacity to employ many Nigerians and lift many from poverty.

Do you mentor young Nigerians and what’s the percentage in your industry?

I mentor a number of young people in the industry which range from the young people numbering about 20 at my workplace, and a large number of students in the universities where I have had the opportunity to give lectures and interact with the students. I also have interactions with many young people from various fields in my industry on the various projects that I have worked on.

As a young man starting out, what was your biggest dream and aspirations?

As a young person, my dreams and aspirations have always been very big, which include being the most famous architect that ever lived in Nigeria by my 50th year. My aspiration is to be involved in the most impactful projects in Nigeria and to see that my work uplifts the lives of many people in our society. To achieve these dreams I worked and gained experience for about a decade in other established practices before starting my own firm – the Building Practice Ltd which is the pedestal for achieving my goals. This learning process has not stopped as I continue my quest for knowledge in various ways by attending seminars, taking professional courses and acquiring degrees and practical skills. It is important to learn the trade and arm oneself with relevant skill and knowledge if dreams are to be achieved and so I encourage every young person to use the opportunities at their disposal, attach themselves to good firms and mentors, take relevant professional and personal development courses where they have chances to learn and grow so that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.

What are the major challenges in the Nigerian construction sector, and how can businesses overcome them?

The construction sector in Nigeria is a very resilient and vibrant industry, which has continued to witness growth despite the difficult economic situation in the country. We have seen the real estate industry which is primarily serviced by the construction sector grow in leaps and bounds to become the third largest contributor to the national GDP as at Q4 2024 with 5.43% of Nigeria’s real GDP coming from this sector of the economy. This growth is fueled mainly by the high demand of housing, housing deficit, demand for luxury apartments and office spaces especially in Lagos and Abuja.Despite this growth and resilience, the industry continues to struggle with numerous challenges which include the high inflation experienced in the country that has resulted in the high cost of materials and services. The recent hike in the cost of fuel has resulted in the increase in transportation charges and ultimately increase in the cost of goods, with these we have seen construction costs rise by almost 70% within the last 15 months. This makes construction very expensive and unfortunately has led to some unprofessional practices by charlatans who operate unscrupulously in the industry just to maximize profits by all means. The industry also suffers from insufficient qualified professionals and tradesmen whose input in the design, coordination and execution of projects are very vital. The construction space in Nigeria has too many quacks (unregistered professionals) and unskilled workers who lack the basic relevant training required to produce and deliver acceptable work, so most of our people have to settle for a lot of mediocrity and substandard, non-functional and aesthetically debased buildings. The industry faces the challenges of frequent collapse which occur in various parts of the country particularly in Lagos state. These occurrences discredit the activities of the sector and its practitioners as well as the professional and regulatory bodies that oversee the sector. The collapses are offshoots of the two points earlier mentioned – use of substandard materials, cutting corners, use of unskilled workers and quacks and poor enforcement of building regulations. Lastly the industry suffers from the lack of up-to-date technological tools, equipment, techniques and modern alternative materials that are used in other parts of the world. Most times our markets are filled with substandard and mundane building materials that are provided primarily for the profit of the dealers and not for the advancement of the industry and so our choices are very limited. This is because we do not manufacture most building materials in Nigeria and depend largely on imported items.

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What steps should aspiring property developers take to enter the Nigerian construction market successfully?

Any property developer who intends to enter the Nigerian construction or real estate market needs to consider a number of factors which include: Location – In the real estate business, location is everything, a development in the right location is on its path to success. Funding – the financing model of any development is key to achieving the required goals, it is important to obtain funding with low interest rates, good moratorium periods, gain access to REITS (Real estate investment trusts), venture capital funding, seek credible joint venture partners and ensure that they have a good exit strategy. Professionals – We always say that for any building project, hiring a qualified architect is the best investment that you can make. This is because a good architect will ensure that your investment is protected by offering quality designs that suit the market’s requirements, he would ensure that your project is designed to meet the planning regulations and he will be able to coordinate the inputs from all other allied professionals which include the structural engineers, MEP engineers, Quantity surveyors and all other relevant consultants. We advise that only duly registered and licensed professionals and firms with the requisite experience are engaged in building projects. Marketing – for any real estate development to succeed the developer must be able to segment the market, identify the target customers and position the development in a manner that attracts the desired subscribers. It is necessary to invest heavily in marketing and advertising to ensure that the message hits the right targets.

How has the rise of technology and sustainability impacted construction practices in Nigeria?

Technology has had a huge impact on the construction industry in Nigeria in diverse ways. The industry has benefited in terms of enhanced design capabilities that have been promoted by the use of modern software like BIM tools, efficient project management software which enhance the coordination of conceptualization, designs, documentation, monitoring, scheduling and administration of projects for greater productivity.

Sustainability has come to stay in the Nigerian construction industry as many projects are adopting green building measures which enable energy conservation, water conservation, sustainable sites, improved indoor air quality and reduction of energy embodied in materials. All these measures ensure that buildings are sustainable and efficient in diverse ways thereby protecting the environment and also reducing the operational cost of buildings. We have witnessed the rise in the quest for attaining green building certifications particularly through the EDGE and LEED green building standards.  These green building standards are internationally acceptable platforms for certifying buildings green and sustainable which show that they have performed better than conventional buildings in efficiency. The construction industry in Nigeria is benefitting immensely in this regard.

How does urbanization in cities like Lagos and Abuja create demand for specific types of construction projects?

Urbanization in many cities in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and Abuja has created a high demand for middle class estates, luxury apartments and short-let apartments. The economies in these cities, the high population and the constant need to provide quality housing for a discerning market has driven up the demand for these types of projects. There are new housing estates and high rise buildings consisting of thousands of dwelling units being built year after year to provide a little fraction of the housing deficit. The introduction of mortgages and flexible payment plans also make it easy for subscribers to purchase apartments in many parts of these cities. In Lagos for example we see the rise in the construction of small apartments that can be used for short-let purposes, a new trend that has become very common to accommodate travelers, tourists and visitors. We saw how profitable this venture was during the “Detty December” of 2024 and I believe that it can be a worthwhile undertaking for investors and developers to take advantage of.

What role does government policy and infrastructure development play in shaping the construction market?

It is the duty of the government through the physical planning, development controls and building control agencies to make plans, grant permits and monitor the construction activities in our environment with a view of ensuring that our cities and environments are organized and the standards of construction are upheld in line with the appropriate building codes. The government usually partners with professionals in the private sector of the construction industry to ensure that only the best practices are implemented. Though we have had incidents of failures in many respects as a result of various infringements and violations of laid down laws, the collaboration between the public and private sector agencies can help the construction industry grow and strengthen the trust of the end users of the buildings.

How can international investors or developers collaborate with local firms like The Building Practice to harness the industry’s potential?

The real estate market in Nigeria has seen so much progress in recent years and the growth has been resilient despite the economic realities of the country. The continuous demand for housing and the persistent housing deficit has sustained the need for construction and investments in the sector. The rise of the need for short-let apartments has also significantly increased the vibrancy of the industry with investors and developers interested in getting a slice of this very large and lucrative market. The Building Practice has positioned itself to provide the needed services around design and construction of various building typologies and specifically the residential niche of the market. After being involved in the design, coordination, construction and delivery of various projects, investors can rely on the firm to be a strategic partner in delivering the exact products that the market needs and which can guarantee the expected returns on investment. Investing in real estate goes beyond securing finances, it is essential that experienced professionals consisting of architects/designers, engineers, project managers, cost consultants, development consultants, legal teams, marketers are assembled in order to guarantee successful projects and attract the target market. I can authoritatively say that the market is ripe and a fertile ground for any international investors to capitalize on and we are strategically placed to help them succeed.