Over 300 professionals have been inducted as corporate members of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, with a strong call for them to embrace entrepreneurship, drive innovation, and tap into the large opportunities across the construction value chain. The induction ceremony, held in Abuja alongside the 5th Annual Pa Fatai Isola Osikoya Memorial Lecture, gathered industry leaders, scholars, and practitioners to discuss the theme “The Builder as an Entrepreneur: Maximising the Construction Value Chain for Innovation and Sustainable Benefits.”
Opening the event, NIOB President, Daniel Kolade, described the memorial lecture as a tribute to the late Pa Osikoya, whom he referred to as a pioneer and visionary whose commitment to professionalism shaped modern building practice in Nigeria. Kolade explained that the theme was chosen to prepare builders for a changing industry where they must operate beyond traditional site roles and adopt entrepreneurial thinking that contributes to national economic growth. According to him, “The builder of today cannot be confined to the traditional boundaries of site management alone. Our value extends to materials production, modular construction, real estate development, green construction, project consulting, and digital technologies.” He congratulated the new inductees and urged them to uphold professionalism while becoming active contributors to national development.
Delivering the keynote lecture, former NIOB President, Chucks Omeife, said the role of the Builder must be fundamentally redefined as the construction industry continues to expand beyond bricks and mortar. He stressed that rapid urbanisation, rising client expectations, and global sustainability demands now require knowledge-driven and innovation-led solutions. Omeife said, “Builders must evolve into innovators, business leaders, and entrepreneurs capable of shaping the future of the built environment.” He highlighted several entrepreneurial prospects, including consulting services, modular construction, digital construction start-ups, facility management, real estate development, aluminum and glass production, and precast material manufacturing. He also noted barriers such as limited access to finance, skills gaps, regulatory inconsistencies, and competition from informal operators, calling on government to support the sector through low-interest financing, better enforcement of standards, incentives for sustainable construction, and full implementation of the National Building Code.
The General Secretary of NIOB, Mr. Nwekete Jonathan, said the lecture aims to reorient builders toward enterprise, pointing out that many professionals depend only on salaried jobs while ignoring opportunities in material production and fabrication. He said, “Builders must not wait only for site jobs or teaching positions. They can produce aluminium, glass, balustrades, frames, timber components, or even precast concrete. These are all part of the value chain. If more builders venture into these areas, they will create wealth and contribute significantly to the nation’s economy.” Jonathan added that increased local production of building materials would reduce import dependence, strengthen the naira, and boost Nigeria’s GDP.
NIOB Publicity Secretary, Mr. Usenobong Atangaedi, said the induction of more than 300 corporate members marks a significant milestone and reflects a future where innovation and entrepreneurship will shape the construction industry. He stated, “At the end of the day, value chains will be expanded, jobs will be created, and the construction sector—which plays a major role in national economic growth—will continue to blossom.”
The event closed with renewed calls for builders to maintain professional standards, ensure quality in material production, and position themselves as key contributors to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
