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By Daniel Adaji
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has tasked builders across the country to uphold safety, ethics and professionalism.
He warned that quality construction remains critical to public safety and economic growth.
Dangiwa gave the charge on at the 25th induction ceremony of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), held in Abuja recently where 436 new builders were inducted into the profession.
In a statement on Monday, the minister described the induction as more than a formal ceremony, noting that it marked “a moment of elevation, a platform for consolidating professional ideas, and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with the license to build.”
He stressed that builders play a central role in shaping the built environment and safeguarding lives, saying, “You do not just erect walls and roofs, you transform ideas into safe, functional, and sustainable physical realities.”
According to him, the country’s development depends largely on how well professionals execute construction projects, adding that “the economy grows when you build well and lives are protected when you build right.”
Dangiwa said the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening the profession through policies aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the housing sector. In this regard, he disclosed that the ministry had earlier approved two key regulatory documents forwarded by CORBON.
The approved regulations are CORBON Regulation 001-25: Operational Regulations for Building Practice in Nigeria, and CORBON Regulation 002-25: Regulations for Health and Safety on Building Sites in Nigeria.
He explained that the regulations provide clear guidance on operational procedures, supervisory standards, and health and safety responsibilities across the construction value chain, reinforcing CORBON’s mandate to entrench ethical practice and professionalism.
Addressing the newly inducted builders, the minister congratulated them on earning their professional status through training and examinations, urging them to embrace integrity, continuous learning and ethical conduct.
“You stand qualified, recognised, and now entrusted with the duty to create, to innovate, and to protect public safety through sound construction practice,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the inductees, Bilda Oshinowo George thanked the council for the opportunity, describing the moment as timely for innovation in the industry. She said the new builders were eager to explore new materials and processes that would make construction “better, easier and faster.”
Another inductee, Joy Anosike, pledged greater involvement in council activities, particularly in advocacy and publicity. She also committed to promoting female participation in the profession, noting the low number of women in building-related departments and practice areas. She highlighted the growing importance of specialisation across managerial, field, structural, finishing and interior segments of the industry.
In his remarks, the Chairman of CORBON, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, said the induction of 436 builders was significant, coming at a time when new federal regulations on building practice and health and safety had just been rolled out.
He explained that the regulations were designed to strengthen professional practice on construction sites and reduce incidents of building collapse. According to him, the newly inducted builders are expected to be “the flagship,” demonstrating new technologies, innovative processes and global best practices in construction.
Opaluwah also spoke on the National Building Code, noting that while Nigeria has one, professionals are advocating for an enabling law to make its implementation mandatory. He added that the code is subject to review every five years, with a committee currently working on its revision.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alex Onuegbu, Chief Executive Officer of Brunnel, urged the new builders to see their practice as a responsibility to the nation and end-users. He described shelter as a basic human necessity and said professional builders must help reverse the trend of building collapse by eliminating quackery.
Onuegbu also linked a quality built environment to economic growth and tourism, arguing that improved infrastructure could attract more visitors to Nigeria, especially during festive periods.
The Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Adetunji Adeniran charged the inductees to maintain a positive attitude and continually develop themselves, warning against actions that could bring the profession into disrepute.