Engr. Francis Chukwu, the General Manager of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) has blamed the deployment of non-professionals as one of the main causes of the incessant building collapses throughout the country.
Engr. Chukwu made this known while delivering his address at the Nigeria Institute of Building, Imo State Chapter’s 4th Builders Workshop/Induction ceremony held at the institutes Secretariat at new Owerri, recently.
Engr. Chukwu who was the Chairman and Special Guest of Honour at the workshop which has the theme “Adoption of Alternative Construction Approach: A panacea to Sustainable Building Production” disclosed that OCDA set up a committee in conjunction with Nigeria Institute of Building to look into the cases of building collapse in Imo State.
He said the findings of the committee revealed that most collapsed buildings were handled by quacks.
The General Manager therefore advised developers to always engage the services of certified builders in order to avert any unpleasant consequences emanating from building collapse.
He commended the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) for mounting the workshop and assured them of his authorities’ readiness to always synergize with NIOB.
In his address the chairman Nigeria Institute of Building, Imo State Chapter Builder, Dr. Andrew Osuagwu warmly welcomed participants and guests to the event.
He explained that the activities of NIOB, Imo State Chapter include collaborating with OCDA in development control, creating awareness amongst Imo People, Corporate Organization and Government Agencies in order to engaging registered builders who are authorized by law to produce buildings.
Dr. Osuagwu called on the Imo State House of Assembly to domesticate the National Building codes in Imo State, he also appealed to the State Governor His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma to approve the creation of Building Control Department in OCDA to be headed by a registered builder, he believes this will create the right mix of professionals in OCDA.
In his key note address Prof. Okoli Godwin Obumneme who is a Professor of Construction Technology/Building Materials in the Department of Building, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, stated that the alternative methods of construction involve a wide range of techniques and materials and can be defined as a move away from traditional cavity wall construction using bricks and concrete blocks.
He noted that alternative building materials are low cost building materials that aim to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of construction, by saving energy and resources, minimizing the emissions through the use of rapidly renewable materials, local sources and recycled content.
Prof. Obumneme regretted that there is no comprehensive legislation for the construction industry on local content development, and that this is a serious minus on the adoption of alternative construction as a panacea for sustained building production.
He advised that Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) as an agency of government charged with the responsibility of conducting research on construction and building materials should do more to advertise and educate the public by building prototypes with their products in local government areas and that researchers should be empowered to hold exhibitions of research findings from time to time.
Prof. Obumneme emphasized that by so doing, the public would be sensitized about alternative materials and how best to use them for their benefits.
Speaking, the National President of NIOB Prof. Yohana Izam who spoke through the secretary of NIOB, Builder Chinasa Nwaekete, decried the use of interior materials for building construction due to high cost of building materials and this situation demands for alternative construction process.
In her goodwill message the Imo State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Love Ine who was represented by Bede Achilike, a director in the ministry, urged the building professionals to develop affordable housing scheme and that they should work assiduously to transform old building methods to modern method.
The event which was attended by who is who in the Built Industry witnessed the conferment of award of excellence on some deserving personalities who according to NIOB have contributed to the development of human resources standard in all aspects of the built environment. They include; ESR Mrs. Grace Uloaku Ekweribe, Principal Director/CEO Tangent Ltd; Bldr. Dr. Christian .C. Ezeh Senior Lecturer, Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Imo State University.
Also the following were inducted into NIOB, Ndukwu Chukwukadibia Dennis, Eze Michael James, Chigozie Okeke Aniekwe Tobechukwu Anthony.
Others are Obiora Starlans Obinna, Ihesiaba Munachimso Enyichukwu and Uzoaru Obumneke Emmanuel.
The workshop continued the next day with the practical aspect of building.
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