MARGARET OGUNTALA is the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers and only female elected in 65 years of the profession. She spoke to VICTOR GBONEGUN on how professionals can mitigate the impact of inflation on the construction industry, improve access to housing, and curb migration among young professionals. The persistent inflation is having an impact…MARGARET OGUNTALA is the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers and only female elected in 65 years of the profession.
For major contracts, a provision called Variation of Prices is included, typically around five per cent of the contract sum. This provision helps to absorb any price increases in the basic construction materials that may occur during the construction period. In situations where inflation is high, the five per cent VOP can be used to cover any fluctuations in prices.
Professional development is crucial to my administration’s plans, and I will ensure that female engineers are included in training programs, workshops, and seminars. Additionally, I will attract successful female engineers to form a solid network to mentor and support the community of women in engineering.
Establishing a university in Katsina focusing on educating engineers in Transportation/railroad construction is a step in the right direction for Nigeria. This will enable Nigeria to close the knowledge gap between it and other countries such as China and India. Currently, the number of qualified railway engineers when compared to others like civil, mechanical, electrical is small, so the government has been relying on expatriates from other countries to help with rail infrastructure projects.
To identify areas for improvement, regular assessments are being conducted to evaluate the level of patronage of indigenous engineers in infrastructure projects. Ultimately, the NSE will actively engage with government agencies and policymakers to advocate for policies that promote the involvement of indigenous engineers in infrastructure projects.
This can include providing land at reduced rates or offering incentives to developers who build affordable housing. Improving infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and electricity in peri-urban and semi-urban areas can also make these areas more attractive for housing development, leading to increased supply and potentially lower prices.
To set an example, NSE headquarters in Abuja is a green building powered by solar energy. We are actively promoting green building development through various initiatives. Firstly, we advocate for adopting green building practices at all our functions to raise engineers’ and policymakers’ awareness of the benefits of green buildings.
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