For the purpose of reshaping the construction industry in Nigeria and helping the country’s growing population of slum dwellers, Lafarge Africa Plc has introduced the Concrete Ideas Policy Blueprint. Lafarge Africa’s sixth concrete idea blueprint, “Eradicating Slums and Regenerating Cities,” was announced at a media briefing in Lagos. The Blueprint is an examination of the insights and ideas shared by industry professionals in the building, infrastructure, and housing sectors over the first five editions of Concrete Ideas, a thought-leadership series hosted by Lafarge.
Dr. Ayo Teriba, a Nigerian economist and the CEO of Economic Associates, penned the Policy Blueprint. The largest building solutions provider in Nigeria wanted to create a forum for discussion of the laws, regulations, and innovations that are changing the face of the country’s construction, infrastructure, and housing markets, so they launched the concrete ideas leadership series. According to Dr. Teriba, the majority of rural real estate is run down, whereas in the city proper, you can find nicer neighborhoods with more modern infrastructure and more convenient amenities.
Expert’s contribution has helped develop concise Policy Blueprint.
He explained that even in the center of the city, the bulk of people live in slums, and just approximately 24 percent of the Nigerian population lives in urban real estate that is considered to be outstanding. During his speech, the country CEO of Lafarge Africa, Khaled El Dokani, stated that the company is taking a more proactive approach towards boosting investment in infrastructure and housing by collaborating with the government, professional associations, public policy experts, and the broader private sector to find enabling strategies for policy change.
In addition, he expressed gratitude to the experts and industry leaders who have been instrumental in the five previous phases of Concrete Ideas by actively participating in and leading key policy discussions. The expert’s contribution has helped the organization develop this clear and concise Policy Blueprint. He also showed optimism that businesses and governments of all levels would find this information to be quite helpful. Dokani proceeded by saying that they are prioritizing sustainability in housing and infrastructure development since it is in keeping with their mission to create progress for people and the globe.
Public-private partnerships are necessary to solve topical issues.
This is so that everyone in Nigeria can benefit from the guidelines, norms, and resulting momentum towards more sustainable building methods. He promised that the firm would keep pushing for greater standards of professionalism in the built environment and the construction industry. As he put it, “not only is the firm casting a vision for promoting sustainable construction practices within the Nigerian built environment and the construction industry, but they are also outlining the action steps to revitalize and grow the industry in an ethical, strategic, and future-focused way.”
Increased effort and collaboration, he said, will continue to unlock the most outstanding policy ideas and innovations necessary to bring Nigeria’s grand infrastructure goals to fruition and fuel the sector’s expansion. According to Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor, head of Corporate Communications for Lafarge Africa Plc, it becomes increasingly clear with each edition of concrete ideas that public-private partnerships and the voice and contributions of the people are necessary to solve critical and topical issues across the construction value chain.
The concrete ideas series has become a driving force for progress.
As the building solutions provider enters its sixth edition of its Concrete Ideas Series, a new policy blueprint has also arrived. Taking place on June 19, 2023 in Lagos, Nigeria, the event will have two plenary sessions: the first will focus on the Business of Clean Energy: Opportunities for Industries and SMEs, and the second will be devoted to Promoting Circular Economy via Sustainable Waste Management Practise. Attracting influential figures from both the public and private sectors, the concrete ideas series has become a driving force for long-term transformation, incremental progress, and financial success in the field.
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