Housing ministry, ARCON kick off training on skill acquisition in construction industry

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s drive on skill acquisition, have perfected plans to kick off an intensive training centre for artisans in the construction industry in the country.

The training with the support of the Housing and Urban Minister, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa will be run by the School of Architectural Technicians situated at Kuje, Abuja.

The centre also comes with a comprehensive skills acquisition centre, and has training sessions for students in primary school under the ‘catch them young’ policy of the council.

The Registrar of the council, Arc. Mohhamed Sule made the disclosure recently in Abuja, when he, along with other staffers of ARCON, visited the newly elected President-General of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Aliyu Kankara.

Sule, who expressed delight over Kankare’s emergence, called for increased employment of architects in all local governments in the country.

Sule acknowledged the role of local government in grassroots development and urged the new NULGE’s boss to use his good offices to stimulate more skill acquisitions for its members.

Sule said “Your emergence is a testament to the confidence your colleagues and members of the union have in your leadership, vision, and dedication to the advancement of local governance and workers’ welfare in Nigeria.

“We, as regulators of the architecture profession in Nigeria, recognise the critical roles that the local governments play in grassroots development and the importance of synergy between professional regulatory and local government bodies.

“We believe that under your leadership, opportunities for collaboration, especially in areas like infrastructure development, urban planning, and capacity building, will be greatly enhanced.

“ARCON, therefore, looks forward to exploring avenues of partnership with NULGE in promoting professionalism, ensuring better-built environments, and supporting skill development initiatives that can benefit both our registered architects and your workforce.”

The Registrar assured NULGE on the quality and preparation the Council had put in place for the training, adding that the council had already struck a deal with the Army Directorate of Inspections and Compliance to enhance their infrastructure development and construction management.

Sule urged the President-General to encourage and sponsor local government staff to acquire more skills which include landscaping, construction management, visual arts, tiling techniques, painting and decoration, POP ceiling making, masonry, among others at the centre.

Sule disclosed that the council has a proposal to mount a four-week summer holiday skills acquisition programme for Primary School years four to six pupils in August 2025.

“In view of the shortage of professional architects in our local governments, we want to request the employment of architects in all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria and at least a studio apartment within the NULGE premises,” he added.

In his response, Kankara, who appreciated ARCON’s team for the visit, promised to address all requests by ARCON, adding “Your requests are valid and I will strive to work towards including them in the local government scheme of service when reviewed and to foster fruitful engagements and collaborations with the council going forward.”

Present at the meeting were Comrade Isah Gambo, Secretary General, NULGE, and ARCON’s team Arc. Wilson Agbonta, Deputy Director; Arc. Biola Akinola, Deputy Director, and Mr. Lamido Hussein.