Some experts in the construction sector have advised bricklayers to embrace new technologies for durable constructions that would boost production and guarantee quality assurance.
The experts made the call in Ikeja at the 2023 edition of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association (LSBA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the theme: “Traditional Masonry Techniques and Advancing Building Technology”.
The event was sponsored by Dangote Cement Plc.
The guest speaker, Mr Kunle Awobodu, who is a former National President of Nigerian Institute of Building, compared traditional construction methods with new ones driven by technology.
Awobodu, the pioneer President of Building Collapse Prevention Guild, stressed the need for bricklayers to adapt to the new methods through capacity building programmes.
He advised them to change their perception of bricklaying as a dirty job which they could not wish for their children.
“Bricklaying is a good trade that the society needs on daily basis, and you can make a lot of money through it,” he said.
He said that bricklaying was important for both employment and wealth creation in the face of scarcity of white collar jobs.
Awobodu said that youths should be encouraged to take up bricklaying to be gainfully employment after graduating from schools.
He said that such an engagement would discourage them from internet fraud refered to as ‘Yahoo Yahoo”.
Dr Emmanuel Aladeloba, a former Head of Building Department, Yaba College of Technology, thanked a team from Dangote Cement Plc. which conducted training for the artisans.
He hoped that ir would develop the capacities of artisans.
Aladeloba, however, called on artisans to be honest and transparent while working on sites unmonitored.
He charged them to use the right measurements and materials.
“It is only when the house you built stays for long without cracking or collapsing that you can be called a bricklayer,” he said.
He warned artisans against accepting low pay to engage in substandard construction that could collapse in the future and result in loss of lives and waste of investments.
He urged them to network with senior colleagues to further develop skills to remain relevant.
He advised them to apply lessons they learnt from the training on the use of right measurements, angles and dimensions to guarantee quality assurance for durable construction.
Aladeloba explained how site operations had been automated through new technologies to make constructions easier.
“You don’t need to carry blocks on your heads now; there are machines that can do that as well as plastering machine which will ease your work and enhance productivity,” he said.
He also advised the bricklayers to introduce cadre grading based on experience so that new entrants would not earn same pay with experienced ones in the daily pay schedule.
The Dangote team educated the artisans on different cement types, usage and the need to always check the expiry dates of products before use to ensure durability of projects.
Earlier, in his welcome address, LSBA President, Mr Taye Dauda, thanked Dangote Cement for training and re-training its members.
Dauda said that nobody was above training no matter his years of experience on the job.
He promised LSBA’s continued collaboration with relevant agencies to curb building collapse in Lagos State.
