The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Bldr. Daniel Abimbola Kolade, FNIOB, has urged Nigerian builders to adopt innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for addressing the country’s growing housing deficit.
Speaking at the inaugural council meeting of the Institute held at its National Secretariat in Abuja, Bldr. Kolade said the NIOB under his leadership is determined to lead transformative change in the nation’s housing delivery system. Themed “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Key Drivers to Housing Delivery,” the meeting set the tone for redefining the Institute’s policy direction over the next two years.
“We, as custodians of building production management, must reposition ourselves not only as technical experts but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and national solution providers,” Kolade said.
The NIOB President emphasized that innovation must be embedded in the professional DNA of builders, calling on practitioners to embrace sustainable technologies, research-based construction methods, and digital project management tools.
According to him, the Institute will foster innovation through research collaborations, innovation labs, and pilot projects showcasing emerging construction techniques.
On entrepreneurship, Bldr. Kolade noted that professional competence alone is no longer sufficient, urging builders to evolve into enterprise creators capable of generating employment and driving economic growth through construction-based ventures.
He also unveiled the Institute’s five key policy pillars for the next two years:
1. Innovation and Research
2. Entrepreneurial Development
3. Professional Regulation and Ethics
4. Advocacy and Policy Influence
5. Capacity Building and Youth Empowerment
Bldr. Kolade paid tribute to past leaders of the Institute for laying a strong foundation and pledged to build on their legacy through purposeful expansion.
“If we can harness innovation, embrace entrepreneurship, and strengthen our professional unity, we will not only close the housing gap — we will redefine the standards of housing delivery in Africa,” he affirmed.
He further called on builders to see themselves not just as craftsmen but as nation builders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs dedicated to sustainable housing and national development.
Earlier, the NIOB President led members of the National Council on a site inspection visit to the NIOB construction project at Idu, Abuja.
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