Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has assured that his administration will continue to collaborate with stakeholders, especially experts and professional bodies in the built industry, to ensure that due processes and procedures are followed in the construction of buildings in the State.
The Governor stated this at the opening of the 2021 Conference & 34th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE), tagged “Eko Ile 2021” with the theme “Digital Technology and its Impact on Structural Engineering Practice in Nigeria” held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat added that government will rely on them to strengthen the regulatory regime that will guarantee that due process is followed in the built industry.
Sanwo-Olu added that the recurring issue of building collapse is an indication of the urgent need to take a holistic view of the entire process of building construction including the competence and professional conducts of those involved in construction as well as the effectiveness of regulatory framework so as to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to avert future occurrence of collapse.
Commenting on the theme of the conference, the Governor described it as very apt as it speaks to the need for structural engineers to embrace technology and digitization as necessary tools to enhance professionalism and better outcomes in construction processes.
He added that the gathering will provide an opportunity for participants to share thoughts, exchange views and forge a common front in addressing some of the critical issues in built sector.
Describing technology as an enabler of greater efficiency and effectiveness for all professions and everything, the governor stated “As a developing country, we need to define regulatory structures using information technology for sustainable improvements. Guidelines that would impact the construction of building must be drawn and adhered to such that we prevent structural defects.”
The Governor assured the institution of his administration’s commitment and support to the realization of a digital technology which will advance structural engineering in Nigeria.
In his presentation on the theme of the conference, the Guest Speaker, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Engr. Eddy Atumonyogo, stressed the need to harness and implement digital technology in structural engineering practice and highlighted the impact of technology.
He said structural engineers should embrace technology, collaborate with others, adjust to accommodate digitally young leaders and guide them to acquire digital knowledge. He said they needed to do this to save their profession.
He noted that there are various applications and software that could aid their work and urged members to learn how to apply them in the discharge of their duties. Engr. Atumonyogo further stressed the need for professionals to collaborate with local and international colleagues, adding that they need to embrace change if they must catch up with the world.
While commending the Lagos State Government on the digitalization of its operations, Engr. Atumonyogo further charged the government to do more in making information more accessible on the website for everyone to ease the business of structural engineering.
He added that the idea of coming to the State Secretariat for the submission of requests for information needs to be looked into by making information accessible to everyone at their fingertips.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Occasion/President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Babagana Mohammed urged the engineers to be actively engaged in politics and governance so as to bring their professional competencies to bear on the process of governance.
Commenting on the issue of building collapse, the NSE President commended the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers for following the dictates of professionalism by ensuring that due process was followed in contributing to the investigations going on over the building collapse at Gerard Road, Ikoyi.
He asserted that the use of qualified engineers will impact the quality of projects being undertaken, adding that society will greatly benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience of Nigerian engineers.
The President insisted that there was a need for the Nigerian government to patronize local engineering firms in the areas of maintenance and capacity building if the nation was to reach its full potential, as was the case of the United Arab Emirate.
Also in his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Engr. Kehinde Osifala disclosed that the theme of the conference was carefully chosen to be future compliant and educate its members and stakeholders about the capabilities of technology and how it relates to structural engineering.
While bemoaning the spate of building collapses in the country and especially in Lagos, Osifala said the institution is ready to partner and collaborate with stakeholders to bring about a reduction in the incidence of structural and building collapses in the country, especially in Lagos.
He said that the institution has submitted its preliminary report on the recent collapse at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, to the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a Memorandum to the Lagos State Panel of Enquiry on the collapse.
The highlight of the event was the conferment of the honorary fellowship award of the Institution on Governor Babajide Olujide Sanwo-Olu for the state’s achievement and strides in infrastructure and digital transformation.
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