Govt plans artisan School with a US institute

IN a novel move to resuscitate Nigeria’s declining fortunes in the housing industry, especially on the lack of skilled artisan, the Federal Government has proposed a scheme that would drive the establishment of training schools for artisans in all the six geo-political zones in country.

The lack of skilled artisans have become a major obstacle in housing development, prompting developers to seek for skilled manpower from neigbouring countries such as Benin Republic and Ghana. For instance, tilers have become endangered species while experienced carpenters, mason and painters are hard to find.

Essentially, the team led by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple held discussions with the President of the Home Builders Institute (HBI), John Curson, Vice President, HBI Residential Construction Academy, Steve Kramer, Director of Operations, International Affairs at National Association of Home Builders, Guiliana Nava and NAHB on the possibility of collaboration between the two institutions on technical and material transfer to equip the existing schools the ministry has in place.

The minister also informed HBI that there was a plan to build training schools for artisans in all the six geo-political zones in Nigeria tofill in the yawning gap in the industry for these skilled workers.

For more than 40 years, HBI has trained and placed thousands of youth and adults in residential construction careers, ensuring that America has a skilled workforce today and for the future. HBI offers a range of education, training, job placement, mentoring and curriculum development programmes. In addition, youth and adults in HBI programmes contribute to community service projects, helping build and remodel homes and communities across the nation.

HBI seeks to advance and enrich the education, training and placement of men and women in careers serving the workforce needs of the residential building industry. These programmes provide students with the information they need to determine if a career in home building is right for them and ensure that home building education instructors and their students are trained to the national skill standards created by the home building industry.

Among those that were in the meeting include Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Gimba Kumo Y’au, Executive Secretary of Federal Staff Housing Loans Board, Dr. Mrs. Hannatu Fika, Chairman, Apt Pension Funds Limited (representing the private sector), Dr. Abubakar Al- Mujtaba, the past President of Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Dele Oguneye.

After a visit to HBI in Washington DC in September, 2011 - part of the educational tour organised by Niche PR and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for the delegation for the customised bi-monthly training programmes for Nigerians in the building sector, the team from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and FSHLB including Director of Building, Ali Bukar Fatoma, Halima Talib, an architect and Austine N. Chinegwu, a surveyor were impressed with the institute’s policy and programmes and requested that the minister be invited to the International Builders Show, 2012 for the above meeting

Source: Guardian