:As professionals met to review common interests and solutions to challenges affecting building practice.
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) recently organized a zonal retreat for the north east zone in Bauchi. This retreat aimed to address various issues affecting the building profession, including the problem of unqualified individuals practicing (QUACKERY) building collapses, and the need for increased membership.
In his opening remarks, Bldr. Prof. Usman Sani Kunya FNIOB expressed gratitude to the organizers for hosting the event in Bauchi. He added that the state chapter will take the lead in ensuring the full implementation of all the resolutions that have been put in place. He therefore called on governments at all levels to pay more attention to the building industry as a means of improving the country’s cash flow.
Kunya ended his remarks by emphasizing the importance of state chapters across the country being proactive in managing the affairs of their respective states.
During the retreat, Bldr. Idris Abubakar Sadiq FNIOB, the second vice president of the institute, emphasized the importance of discussing and reviewing chapter activities to set an agenda for the year 2024. He expressed concern about the prevalence of quackery practice, which has led to building collapses and the loss of lives and properties. Bldr. Idris stressed that the implementation of the National Building Code is crucial in addressing this issue and expressed disappointment at the delay the bill is facing, allowing unqualified individuals to continue constructing substandard buildings.
Bldr. Dr. Napoleon D. Usman FNIOB, the immediate past registrar of the NIOB and also the current Chairman Education and Examination Committee commented on the fact that the work of builders has been taken over by other professionals in the built environment. This lack of synergy and unity between builders and other professionals can only be resolved through the implementation of the National Building Code.
During the retreat, Bldr. Mohammed Danlami Garba FNIOB the immediate past chairman NIOB Bauchi Chapter and Hon. Bldr. Saidu Suleiman Darazo, discussed the development of the profession, government programs and policies, and the importance of mentoring younger professionals. They also emphasized the need for sanctions against those who do not adhere to professional conduct and the importance of engaging the national assembly to ensure the implementation of the building code and promote synergy between the two building bodies.
In his goodwill address during the occasion, the host and chairman of the Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Bldr. Zailani Yusuf, tasked members of various chapters to be active and fully engage themselves in all affairs of the institute. He urged them not to only allow the executive officers to be at the forefront, but rather to engage themselves, as this will lead to better results.
The retreat brought together members and stakeholders from the academia, private and public sectors, and politics across the six states of the northeast zone. The participants discussed various topics, including the passage of the state urban development law, and reached resolutions to address the challenges facing the building profession.
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