The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a demonstration of the two bodies’ commitment to further developing the methodology and technology of building construction.
The MoU aims to promote the profession of construction management, promote professionalism in the industry and academia, promote careers in the industry, but most of all, promote fellowship and friendship within likeminded organisations.
NIOB President, Kunle Awobodu, explained the collaboration among members of the two institutes would endorse research in the field of construction and also encourage greater participation of members in jointly organised construction events for valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Mr Awobodu detailed there were ongoing discussions in regards to further collaboration with the New-Zealand Institute of Building and Singapore Institute of Building to create multilateralism for a greater collective drive to technologically shaped construction products.
In his goodwill message to the forum, the High Commissioner of Nigeria in Australia, Ambassador Bello Kazaure Husseini, hoped that the bilateral relationship would advance construction innovations in Nigeria.
Recounting his experience after a tour of building construction sites in Australia, the Vice Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Dr Samson Opaluwah commended “the level of compliance with standards, which, of course, CORBON would not relent at promoting in Nigeria”.
The MOUY was officially signed in Sydney during ‘Constructing Our World’, an event jointly organised by the New-Zealand Institute of Building, the AIB and the Singapore Institute of Building.
NIOB former General Secretary, Mr Fadil Elegbede, said the Sydney event has contributed to the construction knowledge of Nigerian professionals despite the cultural differences.
The MoU is in place for a two year period.