The Nation Newspaper

Tag: builders

  • Experts advise builders on technology, innovation

    Experts advise builders on technology, innovation

    Experts from French multinational corporation, Saint-Gobain, have advised quantity survivors, site engineers building architects and other practitioners in the building industry to be opened to innovation, solutions and foreign expertise in order to build a resilient industry.

    The experts gave the advice at a one-day workshop with: Creating great living spaces: Innovative solutions for greater well-being as theme.

    It was organised for professionals in the manufacturing and construction industry.

    They argued that Nigeria was still lagging behind on designs, constructions and materials that stand the test of time, adding that it is high time that professional bodies and practitioners opened to alternative solutions.

    Executive Director, Avalon Intercontinental, owners of Renaissance Hotel, Ahmed Tajudeen, who was a guest at the workshop said Nigerians in every sphere of human endeavour could be more proficient if given right exposure and training. He said experts from Saint-Gobain built the hotel at the Ikeja GRA.

    He said: “It was indeed a great having Saint-Gobain as part of the finishing team of the hotel, which today stands tall as one of the best in Lagos. As a matter of fact, the company designed and provided an installation team for all materials required including gypsum boards, walls, ceilings, insulation, finishing solutions, flooring solutions and others.

    “Saint-Gobain brought specific solutions matching our needs: standard regular boards (ceilings), firestop boards (corridor walls and bedrooms), moisture resistant boards for wet areas (bathroom and kitchen walls), glass wool insulation for acoustic performance in walls and ceilings. In the course of the project they actually flew some of their personnel all the way from South Africa to train our men in Nigeria, which for me is quite remarkable.”

    Earlier, Saint-Gobain Gyproc Senior Product Manager, Heidi Olivier, described Nigeria as the biggest market for building materials in sub-Saharan-Africa. He said there is need to expand its business scope in partnership with major distributor.

    “The whole idea of this workshop is to bring together various professionals who use our products and service in the course of doing their jobs and to also bring them up to speed with our latest offering in the market. She further stated that Saint-Gobain has made a name for itself in the industry with the production of high quality plasterboards which are second to none in the industry and has earned it a lot of recognition globally,” she said.

    Business Executive, Westtar Kapito, said the company was ready to expand its market share in Nigeria. “The company has come a long way in mastering the art of designing high quality plasterboards to suit all categories in the building industry that would be impactful for Nigeria. We are here in Nigeria to replicate what we have achieved in other markets,” he said.

    Saint-Gobain is in partnership with Tormek Global Services limited, a major dealer in gyproc plasterboard with a showroom in Yaba area of Lagos. Before the end of the year the company will be holding yet another event basically for installers to bring them on board. Plans are already underway to open a customer experience centre very soon in Lagos.”

    During the training Nigerian Architects, Civil Engineers, Installers major distributors and other professional bodies were exposed to new building methods, alternative techniques of making, mounting and finishing of plasterboards and the use of other construction materials, which were described as great economic value not just to stakeholders but to the entire construction sector which is currently in dire need of innovative technologies for growth.

  • Bridge builders

    The Bridge Builder is a poem written by Will Allen Dromgoole; it speaks volumes to societies, especially fractured society like ours. The poem is instructive for the season of anomie we are in. It was first published in 1900 in the now rare book: “A Builder.” I will quote the entire length of this short poem.

    “An old man going a lone highway, came, at the evening cold and gray, to a chasm vast and deep and wide. Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim. The sullen stream had no fear for him.

    “But he turned when safe on the other side and built a bridge to span the tide. ‘Old man,’ said a fellow pilgrim near, ‘You are wasting your strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day, You never again will pass this way; You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide, Why build this bridge at evening tide?’

    “The builder lifted his old gray head; ‘Good friend, in the path I have come,’ he said, ‘there followed after me to-day a youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm that has been as naught to me to that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!

    The “Old man” did not have his children, close relatives or clansmen in mind when he contemplated building the bridge for posterity. He was concerned about the youth who would cross after him hence the need to save him from the chasm. Is there any doubt that we need such bridge builders in Nigeria today with the hate speeches permeating the society?

    There’s palpable anger in the land. In the cacophony of visible discontent, Nigerians appears disinterested in hearing one another out. It’s been over two weeks now after “quit notices” issued by non-state actors started flying all over the place. The state actor itself appears prostrate despite efforts by Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo to calm frail, ethnic, regional and religious nerves.

    This period reminds me vividly of the post June 12, 1993 Nigeria. The story is well known but needs refreshing. Late General Sani Abacha seized power after the post June 12 confusion and did what no Nigerian leader – before and after him – dared. He imprisoned late Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, the all-powerful former chief of staff supreme headquarters who died in prison.

    He didn’t stop there. He charged and jailed General Olusegun Obasanjo on a trumped up charge of coup plotting. He was even planning what we all thought was virtually impossible in Nigeria – transmuting from a military to a civilian dictator. All the recognised five political parties “endorsed” him save the late M.D Yusuf who dared the goggled one. But Nigeria was saved of its impending misery when the angel of death paid a visit.

    A bridge builder read the hand writing on the wall clearly and propelled us away from doom and anarchy of unimaginable propensity toward a return to democratic rule which still holds to date.

    General Abdulsalami Abubakar – who celebrated his 75th birthday last Wednesday – inherited a bitterly divided Nigeria on June 9, 1998 when he assumed power. The Southwest was a hotbed of series of concerted protests and even on the verge of secession because of the usurpation of Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate. Beyond that, the nation became a pariah on the international scene.

    What did General Abubakar do?  In rapid succession, he undertook a series of proactive actions that ushered in freedom – a huge relief from the draconian Abacha period. The more he gave Nigerians freedom the more Nigerians began to unite and the threat of a break up gradually dissipated. After that it was agreed that candidates from the south-west be put forward for presidential election by political parties.

    General Abubakar then set all political prisoners free, including General Obasanjo, repealed all obnoxious laws including the decrees that limited political associations. He also met with aggrieved groups including leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). This move saved Nigeria from disintegration. We are now back full circle to the same crossroads again and we need leaders with the heart of Abubakar.

    I did mention last week how the genesis of the Rwanda genocide began with hate speeches. We appear to be on that road and the slightest spark can ignite an inferno which is why we need bridge builders. One thing is however clear: if we are able to pass this crossroad, Nigeria would never remain the same again. That Nigeria is in need of restructuring is overstating the obvious and its only revisionists that would deny such fact. The challenge remains how we go about it.

    Reading the signs on the wall, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida said on Monday that the time to restructure Nigeria has come. This – to many – is a call from an unlikely quarter. Babangida during prayers to mark his 75th birthday celebration at his Minna, Niger State residence urged Nigerians to synergise their different potentials towards building a great nation.

    Towards restructuring the country, Babangida called for the devolution of more powers from the federal level to the states even as he urged Nigerians to embrace the creation of state police. He said the fear of state governors using state police to run amok was not as strong as the greater benefit that creating state police would do for the nation. While passionately appealing to leaders of the different divides in the country to show more maturity by reining in the younger elements, the former military president observed that war is not a joke anyone should toy with.

    Between 1993 and 1998, it was the southwest that was boiling, but today, it is the southeast with the resurgent call for “Biafra.” The challenge appears not to be the call for Biafra, but the arrowhead of the agitation. By a default mode, Nnamdi Kanu was propelled from a nondescript agitator with dual Nigerian and British nationality to be the “face” of Biafra after MASSOB became “irrelevant.” The challenge now is how do you tame Nnamdi Kanu without incurring the wrath of his fanatical followers?

    As the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Kanu asked that the governorship election in Anambra State as well as other elections in Nigeria be boycotted. His belief was that such an act would “send a strong signal” to Nigerians that it is serious about its quest for a referendum on Biafra. This is coming on the heel of the sit-at-home protest in May.

    Kanu is addressed as the “Supreme Leader” and people prostrate or kneel before him to receive blessings or prayers with the laying of hands. A few people have even called him their “messiah”, with some claiming that they were cured of their illnesses after he prayed for them. In a deeply religious society like ours this is worrying and extremely dangerous.

    He commands a huge following among young Igbo members of IPOB who have become so uncouth and caustic in their language that it is shocking and embarrassing to sensible Igbos to say the least. My history books teach that the Igbo never had all-powerful kings, and that every decision is reached through a general assembly, otherwise called Ohanaeze. But a Kanu has changed the nomenclature unless sensible Igbo leaders step in and change the narrative.

    Generals Yakubu Gowon and Ibrahim Babangida have thrown their weight behind the election of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. Babangida said he will back an Igbo for the presidential seat in 2019 if he finds a credible personality while Gowon had openly canvassed for an Igbo president to preside over the affairs of Nigeria in the nearest future.

    While this is necessary for fairness and justice, the future model should be electing those that have the right character and are qualified for the job. That is if we have the patriotic bridge builders to build bridges across the chasm.

  • House makes history at Mind Builders

    House makes history at Mind Builders

    For the first time in the history of Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Peridot (Green) House has lifted the Inter-House Sports trophy.

    The feat was achieved at the 7th edition of the biennial sports meet held at the Agege Stadium last Saturday.

    Peridot won with 24 gold; 13 silver and six bronze medals. It gave a wide berth to second placed Diamond (grey) with nine gold, 15 silver, and 12 bronze; third placed Lapis (blue), which had nine gold, seven silver, and 13 bronze; and fourth placed Citrine (yellow) , with six gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze medals.

    Apart from athletics, the competition featured Lego and cake stacking contest for pre-schoolers, music by the school’s orchestra, ceremonial dance by all houses, and special dance/march past by parents.

    In her speech, the Education Director, Mrs Bolajoko Falore, underscored the importance of sports to the development of a total child.

    She said: “Education without sports is incomplete.  For one’s education to be complete, all the elements of the three (3) domains of education must be present; COGNITIVE – brain, AFFECTIVE – Mind/Behaviour and PSYCHOMOTOR – Ability/Physical Abilities.

    “In Mind Builders, we believe in developing a total child through total education.  One of the ways of building the total child is to expose them to physical training through a competitive exercise   That is why we have put together today’s event with the theme “Building the mind through sports”.

    The event was graced by Dr Anuoluwapo Bankole, Proprietress of Mercyland Group of Schools, Abeokuta, who chaired the occasion; Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, former Ambassador to Australia, the special Guest of Honour, and Mr Peter Rufai, Former Super Eagles Goal Keeper.

     

    Barachel Schools hold 2nd sports meet

     

    The Agege Stadium hosted the Second biennial inter-house sports competition Barachel group of Schools, Ifako Ijaiye, which was won by Yellow House.

    Mr David Ajobiewe, Yellow House sponsor , said the pupils worked hard to earn the 14gold, eight silver and six bronze medals that won them the trophy.

    “I therefore, warmly congratulate the house and all students and guardians of the pupils for encouraging them to participate in sport,” he said.

    In his speech, the proprietor, Mr Oluwsegun Alonge, said the school has invested in training its sporting talents, who are now doing well.

    “Over the years the school as a group has been recognised for excellence in sports during invitational events from various schools. We have obtained laurels to show in Gold, silver and bronze medals, certificates and trophies,” he said.

    Green House came second with nine gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals, while Blue House followed in the third position with six gold, six silver and 14 bronze medals.

     

    Mansfield School comes of age

     

    Sapphire (Blue) House emerged winner at the Mansfield Nursery and Primary School 1st Inter-House Sport Competition – with nine gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals last Saturday.

    The event held at the National College Gbagada Sport Field, during which the pupils entertained with March past and various games.

    Speaking at the event, the Proprietress, Mrs Titilayomi Adeniran, said sport engaging in sporting activities helps develop the cognitive, affective and psycho-motor skill of an individual.

    “At Mansfield we push towards excellence, we build our student intellectually and we have in place a character counts programme enshrined in our curriculum for character formation. This competition today affirms the fact that we equally develop the physical aptitudes of our pupils,” she said.

    Special Guest of Honor, Mr. Olawale Jubril, Executive Director of Paint and Cote Nigeria PLC, praised the pupils for their brilliant performance despite their age.

    “The children are wonderful children.  The school is trying to get talents out of the kids which I think is a good one for the school and in the course that, it will help the pupils to compete globally in future for Nigeria,” he said.

    The Chairman, Governing Council of Mansfield School, Managing Director of Reading Investment Ltd, Mr. Oladipo Adeniran, was delighted at the outcome of the school’s first sporting event.

    Topaz House (Yellow House) came second with seven gold, five silver and four bronze medals; Ruby (Red) was third with five gold ten silver and five bronze medals; while Emerald (Green) got trophies for ‘best in march past’ and ‘best behaved house’.

     

     

     

  • Builders on the importance of foundations

    The importance of foundation laying in a building was the focus of discussion at a stakeholders’ forum organised for foundation laying experts and other artisans involved in building by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Kosofe Cell.

    According to the Coordinator, BCPG, Kosofe Cell, Mrs. Jane Ogbu, the forum was imperative given the need to enlighten the public on the importance of a good foundation to the longevity of a building, especially as collapses had become big threat to the construction industry.

    Experts in the profession as well as other stakeholders agreed that the quality of a building’s foundation was one of the major causes of building collapse.

    President, Nigeria Institution of Structural Engineers, Mr. Oreoluwa Fadayomi, noted that the majority of the people were in the dark as to the availability of foundation laying specialists.

    He, therefore, counselled prospective property owners to cultivate the culture of employing experts to handle their construction, especially the foundation because not all builders were specialists in foundation construction.

    “There’s a need for public education when it comes to foundation; people need to know that there are experts who are skilled in knowing the types of soil and the kind of foundation that should be used when building on different types of soil to avoid structural failure,” Fadayomi said.

    He further explained that the first step to take when building was to investigate the soil, irrespective of the project size. This is because no two soils are the same. Besides, he revealed that a site can have different soil even on the same plot of land; hence, every soil must be investigated and this can only be done by the appropriate expert. The cost of soil test is estimated to cost about one per cent of the total cost of construction.

    Participants noted that implementation of policies and laws remained a major challenge in the construction sector.

    A Senior Research Officer with the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NCRRI), Mr. Edom Atomem, said the institute has conducted research and written several reports on how to reduce structural failures, but that nothing had been done.

    Similarly, the National President, BCPG, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, confirmed that failed foundation is a common feature in building collapse.

    “Building collapse has become a menace in Nigeria, especially in Lagos, which has the highest incidents in the world. This should be an embarrassment to those who construct foundations such as geo-technicians,” he said.

    Awobodu blames the dearth of drilling artisans on the improperly organised trade, adding that it has made quacks to have a field day.

    An Assistant Director with the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, said there was the need for professionals to work together and transfer their knowledge to the younger generation to arrest the ugly situation of failed structures.

  • Mind Builders graduands ‘prepared’ for the world

    Mind Builders graduands ‘prepared’ for the world

    Sunday’s valedictory service and graduation gave the Primary Six graduands of Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Lagos, the opportunity to recap lessons from their finishing school session with the Education Director, Mrs Bolajoko Falore.

    The 20 boys and girls, who completed their primary education from the Omole and Central Business Districts (CBD) branches of the school, were reminded of what they learnt about how to sit, stand, criteria for choosing friends, and communication skills.

    Mrs Falore said it was part of their preparation for the world of secondary education, where they would be expected to manage themselves with greater responsibility than the primary school level.

    “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.  I want you to use your past experiences at Mind Builders to create a beautiful future for yourself.  I am sure you will excel among your peers.  You must have big dreams.  But before you can achieve it, you must work,” she said.

    Plaques and certificates were presented to all the graduands for fully completing their primary education up to primary six, unlike many of their peers who left in Primary Five.   Photos of the graduands and their families, as well as their bio-data, prefectship post held, and their future ambitions were projected on the backdrop of the stage for all to see.

    Chairman of the occasion Mr Ailuelohia, who was also the father of the head boy, Oseghale, was one of the proud parents who counseled the pupils.

    He told them that their graduation from primary school represents the end of a phase in their lives and the start of another.

    “This is my message to all graduating pupils.  This phase has prepared you for the next phase.  And Mind Builders School has played a principal role in that preparation.  It is your responsibility to take the things you learnt and use it for the next phase.  Your parents will not be there for you, especially for those going to the boarding house.  You will be responsible for yourself,” he said.

    The school administrator, Mr Olatunde Opeyemi, charged the graduands to believe they can do all things through Christ; while the Head Teacher, Mr Ezekiel Awe, said they should not forget the 12 pillars of character, namely, goal setting, self awareness, value achievement, value others, self control etc.

    Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the graduation cake.

  • ‘Builders, artisans should be partners’

    WHAT should be the role of artisans in the building sector? Experts believe that artisans should be integrated into the sector by enhancing their status.

    They spoke at a workshop of artisans organised by Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), MCS Consulting Limited and supported by Nigerite Nig Ltd.

    President, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr Agele Alufohai praised the City and Guilds Examination Board in coming up with a training package to address the knowledge gap among artisans.

    He said he expected the training to be a revolution in the education policy that the Federal and state government’s would take up enthusiastically.

    Alufohai said: “The costs of inappropriate training on the one hand and deficient or inadequate technical and vocational training on the other hand in our economy is extremely high. Thousands of our youths have different kinds of university degrees which cannot find any use in the economy. Meanwhile, we have to import artisans and technicians from neigbouring countries, Europe and Asia to work in construction and the oil industries”.

    Nigerite Marketing Director, Mr Toyin Gbede, regretted that the nation has not been able to harness its pool of unemployed youths.

    He said the curriculum in conventional schools is not meeting the reality on ground.

    Gbede said: “We should not blame our artisans because we have not trained them enough, we should develop their skills rather than importing artisans from neighbouring African countries and Asia which leads to capital flight. As a company we train over 400 carpenters a week and have built laboratories in University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in order to build skill and entrepreneurship.”

    Executive Secretary, LASTVEB, Mr Olawumi Gasper, said the board facilitated the training of instructors and teachers and lent support in the delivery of the curricula.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Poor safety standards worry builders

    Poor safety standards worry builders

    Worried by the poor safety and health standards in the construction sector, the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) has urged the government to improve standards in the built environment.

    The institute said health and safety in the sector was at an abysmal level, urging the government to do more.

    Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Builders Lagos Chapter, Jelele Akinpelu, at a briefing to herald NIOB Lagos Chapter’s Annual General Meeting, slated for tomorrow, stressed that health and safety in the construction sector, the theme of its meeting, was chosen because of the low level in standards of safety and health in the sector.

    “The conformance level is low and we believe the Lagos State government’s recent initiative to launch a safety agency is very germane to standardising the sector. We are calling on government to pass the National Building Code to improve health and safety in the built environment as well as prevent building collapse.” Akinpelu added.

    Vice Chairman of the branch and Chairman of the AGM Planning Committee Asimiyu Bashir said the main objectives of this year’s conference were on health and safety management on construction sites; exploring the benefits to clients and other stakeholders; thinking safety and acting safety, among others.

    Bashir said “Health and safety should be every one’s concern as accident does not give notice, it just occurs.

    To dissect the topic, we have erudite resource persons to educate stake holders on the need to be more serious with health and safety precautions as the effect is costlier than preventing it. Most times, the victims are left helpless and hopeless.”

    Among the panel of discussants/ facilitators are Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs Dominga Odebunmi; immediate past chairman NIA Lagos Chapter, Abimbola Ajayi; Associate Professor of Construction Management University of Jos, Dr. Yohana Izam and Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Projects Monitoring and Concessioning Ogun State, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi.

    Others are General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi Osanyintolu and  Principal Partner of  Spectroplan Limited, a firm of Consulting Town Planners, Mrs. Catherine Kehinde George.

    The programme will be held at  NECA House, Alausa, Plot 2A, Hakeem Balogun Street, CBD Ikeja under the chairmanship of  the Oyo State Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bimbo Kolade.