ABSTRACT
This work studied the retraining of professional builders
in the Nigerian construction industry. The study identified the key areas of
professional practices of a builder, the skills and competencies required by
professional builder, the means of developing professional builders for
continuous improvement and benefits of continuing professional development for
a professional builder. A survey research method was adopted after a literature
search has been done on the subject. A total of forty (40) questionnaires were
distributed by hand to professional builders in various areas of practice in
Enugu and Anambra State. A 100% questionnaire response was achieved. Data
obtained from the questionnaire were presented and analyzed using frequency
tables and percentages. Quantitative and descriptive analysis were also done,
while mean score index was used to find the mean score values of the responses
of the respondents based on five (5) point likert scale. The result was used to
evaluate the answers to the research questions and objectives. It was found
that professional builders have the capacities to practice in variety of areas and
required as many skills as possible to function well. The study also revealed
that continuing professional development of builders is very important for the
development skills and knowledge and improvement of their professionalism.
Workshops, seminars, conferences and short –term course identified as some
means of CPD. Finally, there is a need for continuous improvement and updating
of professional builder knowledge and skills through CPD so as to meet the
current challenges of the construction environment. Professional bodies (NIOB)
and (CORBON) should make CPD compulsory for all their members and find a way of
monitoring their members CPD programmes as CPD has uncountable benefits to all
stakeholders in the industry.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The act of Building can be traced
back to the biblical creations. The professionalization of Building
materialized when the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) was established in
UK in 1934. Over a century later, specifically in1967, the profession of Building
was inaugurated in Nigeria by the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), as the
first Oversea centre of the UK Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). However,
the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) gained its autonomy from the CIOB in
May, 1970. After many years of successful and recognized activities, the
Institute gained its statutory backing of the profession by obtaining the
Builders (Registration, etc). Degree No. 45 of 1989 (now Act Cap B13, LFN,
2004), from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The scope of training a
professional builder and the study of building programme is contained under the
current minimum education standard approved by the National University
Commission (NUC) and Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) and Council of Registered
Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) guidelines.
The need for retraining of
professional builders is occasioned as a result of constant change in
technology, practice and management of building production and construction
industry in general. In response to this, Ademoroti (1997) sees the need to
establish a culture of learning through study and experience, self improvement
and commitment to enhance the building industry’s products and services. When
counted the numerous importance of construction industry to the nations economy
(Wahab, 2005, Akanni, 2001, Husseini, 1991), one will see the need for adequate
training and retraining of professional builders in the construction industry.
According to Kontagora (1991), the
failure of the construction in this country including the professions, depends
on their education and training of all levels, if contracting is to gain
prestige and build up a properly trained labour force. He further suggested
that an area that should be examined is the issue of continuing professional
development (CPD) which should now becomes the
focus in the construction industry. Then to keep abreast of new developments in
technology and management and also broaden the knowledge of building
professionals, a mix of work experience, and continuing education and training
is of utmost importance.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
According to Obiegbu (2001), human
resources for the construction industry appear in many varieties, styles, sizes
and other attributes; some are of professional status; some technical; while
others are skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled. Any attempt to neglect the
development and continuous existence of any of these is detrimental to the
overall success of construction industry.
The Nigeria today construction
industry has been regarded as an avenue for human tragedies and losses. The
sequential incessant of building collapse all over the nation, the poor quality
of building works, the high rate of litigation and increasingly clients dissatisfaction
all are evidence of technological and managerial
mismatch in the construction industry.
Vishwakarma (2008) observed that
due to globalizing economy, students pursuing technical degree programs
including those related to competence in construction industry, may not be
adequately educated to meet the demand that will be expected out of their
profession during the next decade in the on going changing scenario worldwide.
Wahab (2005) and Ogunbiyi (2004)
noted that Nigerian construction industry is being dominated by foreign
players, leaving the ingenuous contractors with virtually nothing. This can be
attributed to technological and managerial deficiency of the Nigerian
construction professionals. It is on this premise that the construction
industry council in 2006, acknowledge and provides the guidance on continuing
professional Development (CPD) for individual professionals. Their employers,
and the professional Institutions in the construction industry, hence the need
for retraining of building professionals in the Nigerian construction industry.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 64 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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