Housing Ministry Trains Staff on Green Building Practices

* Workshop Transformative for our Ministry, housing development - Dangiwa

  * Its FG's commitment under President Tinubu to do things differently, adopt global best practices 

A 2- day training workshop on Green Buildings Practices for the staff of the technical departments of the ministry of Housing and Urban Development has commenced today, Wednesday, October 30th, 2024.

The workshop was anchored by the Excellence in Design For Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) and a World Bank Group, International Finance Coorporation (IFC), in collaboration with the ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Declaring open the workshop, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa described the workshop as transformative for the ministry because it's impact will transform the thinking approach of the staff. 

Green Building Practice involves designing, constructing and operating buildings in an environmentally friendly manner and aims to provide residents with a comfortable, healthy indoor and outdoor environment.

Dangiwa said  "This administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to doing things differently by adopting global best practices that will improve the lives of the people and their health generally.  The workshop is beyond presentation, rather a  learning experience that will be adopted and will lead to real and tangible improvements in the way we plan and build homes in Nigeria" 

He explained that the ministry will set standard and example for other ministries, agencies and even private sectors to emulate, adding that the ministry is ready to embrace green building to create a sustainable future for Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the IFC EDGE Green Buildings Team Lead, Temilola Sonola, said that, Green Building would support Nigeria to adopt global best practices in order to fight against Climate Change, further disclosing that Nigeria has recorded 31 property developers, financial institutions and investors that have obtained EDGE GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION for a grand total of 35 projects in Nigeria, including diverse building types like hospitals, student accommodation and others.

She further stated that, building and construction sector contributes 40% to global Green Building certification and the factors to it which are rapid growth, urban population and utilization of outdated construction. 

Sonola said, " complying with Green Building brings about use of less water, less energy, less waste and less infrastructure which will lead to improved air quality and living conditions. The financial benefits are enamous which includes increase in asset value and cost reduction".

The Permanent Secretary,  Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi in his remarks said, the workshop was timely as so many homes in Nigeria lack access to some of the basic amenities like water and energy among others.

He said, the workshop will help the staff as they comply to boost and improve the livelihood of those that are vulnerable.