The growth in infrastructure development in the Middle East has resulted in a construction boom. The boom has catalysed in increased demand for artisans. Hiring artisans with the right skills and experience has been a challenge. There is a training programme to recruit Nigerians to work in the region and other parts of the world, DANIEL ESSIET reports.
Construction sector is one of the most important sectors in the economy. It generates about 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and positively influences the growth of employment in other related economic activities.
However, contractors need good and skilled artisans to effectvely deliver projects of high quality. But there is a level of professionalism required for construction work as an artisan, or tradesman. This covers competence in building plans and specifications, methods of construction and materials management. But only a few local artisans possess this. This has had negative impact on the industry.
To address this challenge, the Universal Learn Direct Academia Limited (ULDA), a consortium of professionals that facilitate skills training in vocations, such as carpentry; plumbing; electrical installation; brickwork; plastering; tiling and site engineering, among others, is training secondary school leavers, polytechnic and university graduates, as well as unemployed youths for the building and construction industry.
Its President, Gasper Olawumi, expressed dismay over the skills gap among polytechnics and university graduates, adding that with their partnership with those in the industry, they can engage the trainees, who would in turn help in strengthening capacities across the sector.
He noted that lack of skills among the lower cadres of workers is chiefly responsible for problems dogging the construction industry. Such problems, he noted, include structurally unsound buildings, which end up collapsing.
Gasper, who is a partner and former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), said the institute is making the industry more attractive to school-leavers and graduates by equipping them to work in the construction industry, while incentives for employers will also help encourage more youths into apprenticeships.
The organisation is now focusing on the Middle East with the much-anticipated pick-up in construction activity in Dubai. The company is opening an international office in Dubai to enable it export trained artisans, who can work abroad. The organisation equips youths with skills in masonry, carpentry, formwork, plumbing, tiling, scaffolding and plastering within a year.
“The young graduates will be trained on all aspects of carpentry, block-laying, plumbing and electrical on site. We are taking off with hands-on skills. That is why engineering is a key programme to us and we are ready to ensure that Nigerian graduates hone their skills early enough so that job opportunity will be available for them,”Gasper said, adding that training leads to quality workmanship, which means fewer lives are likely to be lost as a result of building collapse.
Gasper, a former Lagos Polytechnic rector, said that is why training is important because it imparts skills and positive behaviour. “For instance, when artisans are conversant with their roles on the construction site, they need minimal supervision, but will do a substantial amount of work.
“So, since training equips artisans with the requisite work ethics, the contractor will not have to worry about workers reporting to work late, materials disappearing from the site, or workers skipping work after being paid,” he said.
The project visioner and co-ordinator, Mr. Gbola Oba said the construction industry is replenishing the housing stock, building new infrastructure and helping to restore the economy, but there are challenges whether it is to attract and retain a forward-looking workforce output.
Oba stressed the need for a dynamic industry that is alive to global market opportunities, international relations and the exporting of skills.
He said the company sees prospects in training artisans under global standard best practices and exporting them across the world.
According to him, such artisans must be trained to a level where they can work in places, such as Dubai with stringent key performance indicators and design-savvy occupiers, where issues of efficiency and performance are put into acute focus.
In terms of addressing poor public perceptions of construction workers, Oba stressed that it is high time things were taken to the next stage by inculcating performance ethos that will promote the industry’s positive image.
To stand any chance of plugging the existing skills gaps, diversifying the workforce and securing a talent pipeline for the future, he said more young people need to be persuaded to pursue careers in construction industry.
