Examining the roles of artisans in construction sector

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Nigeria’s booming construction industry relies heavily on the expertise and dedication of its artisans.

Undoubtedly, the construction industry will not flourish without these groups of individuals- masons, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders and tilers, among others.

These skilled workers, often overlooked, play vital roles in transforming designs into physical structures, stakeholders insist.

They observe that in spite of the essential skills and hard work they put in the industry for it to function and grow, they still face challenges.

For instance, they are often employed by their clients on a casual or temporary basis, resulting in insecurity and inconsistent income, according to them.

Although they are skilled, formal training opportunities is significantly in short supply, hindering their development and exposure to advanced techniques in their various professions.

These challenges, nonetheless, the artisans are still incredibly important to the construction industry because they are readily available and cheaper to hire to keep traditional building methods alive, stakeholders argue further.

Building experts also note that the country needs more than 15 million skilled men like these for its ever-growing construction industry to close house deficit challenge.

According to them, with a growing population of more than 200 million people and a shortage of more than 28 million houses, the country cannot afford to trivialise any component of construction that will stimulate rapid development in the sector, artisans inclusive.

But does the country have access to enough of the artisans for its construction industry is a question among stakeholders.

Stakeholders observe in addition that building engineers in the country prefer foreign artisans from Togo, the Republic of Benin and other neighbouring countries, citing non-sufficient of enough artisans in the country.

But critics note that their decision is based on their belief that foreign artisans are more experienced, trustworthy and have advanced techniques that help them to deliver superior results.

Mr Adekola Joko, a bricklayer from Ogun, who shared a common observation, said that foreign artisans often receive higher pay for the same work in Nigeria.

Joko said that went on a journey of self-improvement to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he resided with a friend who was a tiller to learn modern methods of tilling.

He said: “After severally going out with him, observing and learning from his friend, and attending a series of training programmes to upscale my skills, I then acquired tilling skills.

This has given me a valuable edge over other bricklayers upon my return to Nigeria.

“My new experience has made a great impact in that clients who previously knew me as a bricklayer are impressed by my ability to handle tilling projects as well.

This opened doors to new opportunities for me to earn more.

“Some clients, believing I received training in the Benin Republic due to the lingering foreign worker preference, even recommended me to their colleagues.

“Today, my experience and skills allow me to charge a higher price for my work. Depending on the project details, my daily rate ranges from N104, 000 to N1, 000,000 — a significant improvement compared to the daily wages of N2, 500 to N10, 000 that I was charging for bricklaying before I relocated to Cotonou’’.

To address the shortage of artisans in the construction industry, experts note that the country needs to organise training programmes for its artisans every year to strengthen the construction industry and promote professionalism.

Mr Paul Atewolara, representing the Body of Artisans in the built environment in Lagos, observed that the depreciation of the naira had led to the departure and decrease in the number of foreign artisans and the country should close the gap.

He said that the positive development had created an opportunity for local artisans with the right skills to step in to fill the gap.

He also said that for artisans in the country to be able to fill in the gap, they must ensure quality through proper skills acquisition and certification, adding that these would bolster their reputation and marketability.

He observed that when the homebased artisans acquired a formal professional recognition through professional bodies; their career paths would be created.

Atewolara commended the Lagos State Government for the good initiative of Master Craftsman Training Programme to train no fewer than 10,000 artisans across diverse array of skills to create a pool of qualified local artisans.

He also praised the state government for coming up with a capacity building programme which have so far trained many artisans in various trades such as bricklaying, carpentry and metalwork, noting that more than 7,000 artisans had so far benefitted in the programme.

He suggested that increased training such as the initiatives of the Lagos State government and the revival of the trade test qualification system would allow artisans to get the necessary skills for different skill levels.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity is the only state body authorised to issue a trade test certificate of competence to artisans whose working skills meet the required standards,’’ he asserted.

Mr Adesegun Banjoko, the National President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, noted “there is a perceived lack of technical skills among some artisans which led to concerns about quality and safety’’.

He notes that some artisans lacked professionalism which has made them find it difficult to communicate, present themselves to their would-be employer or even network, adding these have hindered their ability to secure contracts or advance in their careers.

Banjoko notes further that disagreements and power struggles within artisan associations have prevented them from having effective leadership to implement development programmes.

“To bridge the gap, there is need for collaboration among artisans, associations and the government to create a more skilled, professional and recognised artisan workforce in the country’s-built environment,’’ he observes.

He acknowledges the government’s efforts to address the skill gap through its Skill-Up Artisans training programme, a transformative initiative by the Federal Government and the Industrial Training Fund.

“The Skill-Up Artisans training pro- gramme is to empower, train, and license 10 million young artisans through tech-enabled skills to promote industry standard excellence,’’ he explains.

Mr Ayotunde Bally, the Chief Executive Officer, Dembally Ltd., a real estate development company in Lagos, urged regulatory bodies within the building industry to enforce mandatory training and equipment requirements for local artisans.

According to him, this is the reason contractors and developers prefer foreign artisans to home- based.

Acknowledging the value and affordability of local talents, Bally noted that they lacked the qualification and skill to execute projects.

“I’ve been employing Nigerian artisans for my real estate ventures since the beginning; however, the steep expenses associated with hiring foreign artisans and consultants often lead me to consider them as the preferred option.

“In spite of this, it’s worth acknowledging that there are local artisans who offer commendable service, albeit at a higher cost.

“Affordability remains a primary factor driving developers toward utilising local artisans, even though they may lack adequate trainings and equipment for project execution.

“To address this challenge, regulatory measures should be implemented mandating all artisans to undergo basic formal training and acquire specific building equipment,’’ he said.

He also proposed implementing a system for renewing these qualifications regularly, saying “a robust follow-up process should ensure the renewal of these requirements regularly.

“Strict enforcement by regulatory bodies within the building industry is essential to prevent the execution of substandard projects’’.

Bally believes that when the skills and qualifications of local artisans are improved, developers will like to use them.

“This approach will not only promote local expertise but reduce the risk of poor-quality construction projects,’’ he observes.