By Festus Amadasun
University trains Builders, but where will its graduates practise?
The recent recruitment advertisement by the University of Benin (UNIBEN), published in The Nation newspaper on Thursday, August 27, 2026, has raised questions about the apparent omission of the Builder’s cadre from the University’s recruitment plans.
A careful review of the advertisement for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff positions shows several positions across different disciplines and units of the University, including areas relating to the built environment.
However, there appears to be no specific provision for Builders in areas directly connected with building production, construction management and the execution of building projects.
The concern deserves the attention of the Management of the University of Benin, not as a contest between professional groups, but as a matter of professional recognition, construction quality, institutional capacity and, importantly, the future of students being trained in the Building profession.
Building construction is a multidisciplinary process involving Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Builders, Estate Surveyors and other professionals. Each profession has its own area of competence and statutory responsibilities. The Builder, however, is specifically trained in building production and construction management. The profession encompasses construction planning, construction methods, site organisation, construction programming, quality control, health and safety, coordination of trades, materials management, supervision of construction operations, building maintenance and other aspects of the physical production of buildings.
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), the statutory regulatory body for the profession, is responsible for regulating and controlling the practice of the building technology profession in Nigeria. CORBON also recognises the management of the building production process, construction programming, construction methodology, quality management and health and safety planning among areas associated with professional building practice. (CORBON)
The professional status of Builders in Nigeria is also established by law through the Builders (Registration, etc.) Act, Cap. B13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Section 20(2) of the Act provides that “A registered builder under this Act shall, but to the extent only of his particular qualifications, be entitled to practise as a registered builder throughout the Federation.” This provision gives statutory recognition to the practice of registered Builders throughout Nigeria, subject to their qualifications. (CORBON�)
The significance of this statutory recognition cannot be overlooked when considering the professional composition of an institution that undertakes substantial building projects. The question therefore arises as to why an institution such as the University of Benin, which is a major developer and owner of buildings and infrastructure, should not have adequate representation of Builders in positions connected with building production and construction management.
The University of Benin is continuously involved in the construction, renovation, refurbishment and maintenance of lecture theatres, student hostels, laboratories, faculty buildings, administrative offices, health facilities and other infrastructure. Many of these projects require effective management from the planning and pre-construction stage through construction, finishing, completion, handover and maintenance. Having an adequate number of professionally qualified Builders within the University’s establishment can strengthen its internal capacity to manage and monitor the actual production process of its buildings.
The importance of this cannot be underestimated, particularly in an industry where poor workmanship, defective materials, inappropriate construction methods, inadequate supervision, poor coordination, project delays, rework and material wastage continue to present challenges. Effective building production management can contribute to improved construction quality, productivity, safety and value for money.
The issue becomes even more significant because the University of Benin has a Department of Building under the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, where students are trained in building construction, building technology, building production and construction management. The University is therefore not only a major consumer and developer of buildings; it is also an institution responsible for training future professionals who will participate in the production and management of buildings across Nigeria.
This raises a fundamental question: Where are graduates of the Department of Building expected to work if institutions such as the University of Benin do not adequately recognise and utilise Builders in their own building development and construction activities?
Every year, students are admitted into the Building programme and spend several years acquiring professional knowledge and practical skills. Upon graduation, they will naturally seek opportunities where their education and professional competence can be utilised. If the University itself provides limited opportunities for the professional Builder despite its extensive building and infrastructure development activities, it could inadvertently create the impression that there is limited institutional recognition of the profession.
This may also affect the morale of current students and discourage prospective students from choosing Building as a career. Young people and their parents understandably consider employment opportunities when selecting a course of study. If they perceive that Builders have limited opportunities even within institutions that train them, some prospective students may decide to pursue other disciplines.
The consequences could extend beyond the University. UNIBEN is a respected institution, and its practices can influence the wider construction industry. If the University adequately engages Builders in appropriate areas of building production and construction management, it can send a positive message to government ministries and agencies, other universities, construction companies, property developers, TETFund-funded institutions and other organisations involved in building development.
Conversely, inadequate recognition of the Builder’s role could unintentionally send a message that building production can be adequately managed without sufficient representation of the professionals specifically trained for that function. Such a perception would not be beneficial to the Nigerian construction industry, particularly at a time when the country needs stronger professional capacity to address building defects, construction delays, poor workmanship, safety concerns and infrastructure maintenance.
It is important to emphasise that this issue should not be interpreted as a battle between professional groups. Construction is inherently multidisciplinary, and successful projects depend on the collaboration of Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Builders, Estate Surveyors and other professionals. The presence of a Builder does not diminish the importance of any other professional. Rather, it strengthens the project team by ensuring that building production and construction management receive appropriate professional attention.
The concern is therefore about ensuring that every professional is appropriately engaged according to his or her education, competence, statutory responsibility and area of professional practice.
There is also the important issue of professional succession. Experienced professionals currently serving the University will eventually retire or leave active service. If younger professionals are not recruited and developed, the University could face a manpower gap in the future. Strengthening the Builder cadre would provide opportunities for knowledge transfer, professional development, career progression and institutional continuity.
The University should therefore consider reviewing its current professional manpower structure to determine whether the number of Builders available is adequate in relation to the volume of construction, renovation, maintenance and development projects being undertaken. Future recruitment exercises should appropriately provide for qualified Builders where the responsibilities of the positions involve building production, construction management, construction supervision, quality control, health and safety, maintenance and related professional functions.
There should also be stronger collaboration between the University’s Department of Building and the Physical Planning and other relevant development units. Such collaboration could provide students with appropriate practical exposure, internships, industrial training and professional mentorship, while also helping to bridge the gap between academic training and professional practice.
The recent newspaper advertisement should therefore be seen as an opportunity for Management to reflect on the University’s long-term professional manpower requirements. The issue goes beyond one recruitment exercise. It touches on professional recognition, construction quality, institutional capacity, manpower planning, succession and the future of students being trained in Building at the University of Benin.
UNIBEN has invested in training Builders, while at the same time investing substantial resources in constructing and maintaining buildings. It would therefore be appropriate for the University to ensure that the professional discipline it trains is adequately recognised and utilised within its own institutional environment.
The central question for Management is simple: If the University of Benin is training the next generation of Builders, should it not also provide appropriate opportunities for those Builders to contribute to the production, management and maintenance of the University’s buildings?
The answer should be guided by professional competence, statutory requirements, institutional needs and the University’s responsibility to its students and the wider construction industry.
The University of Benin has an opportunity to lead by example by strengthening its Builder cadre, promoting multidisciplinary collaboration and demonstrating that professionally trained Builders have an important and recognised place in Nigeria’s building production process.
The objective should not be to give one profession an advantage over another. It should be to ensure that the right professional is available for the right responsibility, that construction projects receive appropriate professional management, and that graduates trained by the University have a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the development of the institution and the nation.
Festus Amadasun, an Alma mater of Uniben, writes from Amsterdam, Netherland.