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Green Building Training

of Nigerian Quantity Surveyors in Preparedness for Green Building Practice

 

FEATURED PAPER

By Adetayo O. Onososen

Ondo State, Nigeria

 


 

ABSTRACT

The surge in emergence of new technologies and advanced construction methods and processes is a strong indicator of the dynamism of the construction industry and its little or no unopposed acceptance of disruptive processes. While developed economies are fast dictating the pace of transformation as regards green building, it is imperative to cross-examine the training of quantity surveyors for green building practice as to determine the suitability of their skills and competence in competing locally and globally. The course contents of academic curricula of higher institutions offering quantity surveying at undergraduate level were examined to gauge the availability of green building courses.  From the study, green building education is vastly absent in the curricula of Nigerian Universities as it is almost non-existent. Also, inadequacies were observed in competencies areas. To prepare quantity surveyors for green building practice, formal education needs to be checked by reworking the curricula to accommodate green building competencies, more so, informal education through training and retraining, workshop and conferences should be organized for practicing quantity surveyors to upgrade their skills and keep them abreast with necessary knowledge and competencies to function as green building experts.

Keywords:      Competencies, Education, green building, quantity surveying, training.

INTRODUCTION

The significant impact of construction activities which results in delivery of infrastructural products is an emerging source of concern as to its impact on the socio-economic and environmental aspect of human livelihood. This is further established by Chalmers (2014) who stated that the construction Industry and its product affect the environment in negative ways. Nigeria is not left out of the impacts of these unsustainable building practices. With 48.08% score in air pollution and a meager 8.9% of Lagos residents having access to good drinkable water (WHO, 2016), the country has a long way to go in adopting sustainable approaches to its developmental initiatives. The critical and undeniable need to adopt green buildings as a way to mitigate the effect of bad environmental policies is imperative and obvious in its urbanization rate which is projected to increase to 56.8% and 63.6% in 2020 and 2030 respectively; these brings with it challenges as much as opportunities (Fed.Min Environment 2012).

As ascertained by Ameh, Soyingbe and Oyediran (2018), data from World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics agrees that there is an estimated housing shortfall of over 17million in Nigeria. In as much as the country has lofty goals and vision on development considering its lacuna in the availability of infrastructures, there is need to take a critical look at the educational system of the country if it supports and trains professionals in the built environment to meet up with changing global demand and needs.

For the impact of unsustainable environmental approaches over the years to be minimised, the traditional methods of construction has to be disrupted and improved to pave way for newer environmentally friendly methods (Haapio, & Viitaniemi, 2008). This disruption however can only be driven by competent hands with apt knowledge of construction processes and how to make it sustainable, all these cannot be achieved without training of professionals in the built environment. A critical look at the curriculum of higher institutions in Nigeria is imperative in judging if the country is reskilling its professionals in preparedness for the future needs for green and sustainable buildings.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

Sustainable construction aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability through green buildings holds immense opportunities for professionals in the industry as it provides a veritable source to improve their knowledge, enlarge the scope of their services and compete favourably globally.

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To read entire paper, click here

 

How to cite this paper: Onososen, A.O. (2019). Green Building Training of Nigerian Quantity Surveyors in Preparedness for Green Building Practice; PM World Journal, Vol. VIII, Issue IX, October.  Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pmwj86-Oct2019-Onososen-green-building-training-of-nigerian-quantity-surveyors.pdf

 


 

About the Author


Adetayo Olugbenga ONOSOSEN

Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

 

 

Adetayo Onososen is a research-driven, highly dependable, diligent and innovative graduate of Quantity surveying from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. He also has a Master of Science in Quantity Surveying from the University of Lagos.  He has a strong bias for excellence, execution and exemplary work ethic. He is highly analytical with industry-based experience in construction management/cost control and project management. He is skilled in conducting qualitative and quantitative field research in environmental sciences/ technology in construction and sustainable/green buildings. He possesses effective communication and writing skills, strategic leadership, teamwork and dynamic people management skills. Over the years he has garnered keen interests in technology in construction, green buildings and research in the environmental science. He works as a practising quantity surveyor in a firm where a mix of entrepreneurial drive and extreme ownership mindset is encouraged where he is leveraging skills to contribute own quota to overall organization growth.

Adetayo can be contacted on Onososen@gmail.com