26 Nigerians to participate in $2m competition

LafargeHolcim, a leading cement manufacturer, said 26 participants, including 12 students from Nigeria, have submitted entries for its $2 million Sustainable Construction Competition.
A statement by Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the Director, Communication and Public Affairs of the company, in Lagos on Thursday said the competition was geared towards enhancing growth in the construction industry.
Michel Puchercos, the Group Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, in the statement, was elated that more Nigerians tapped into the opportunity offered by the award.
Puchercos said: “Nigerian professionals and students participating in the competition live and work in some of fastest growing cities in the world.
“The competition is therefore an opportunity to address the myriad challenges of urbanization as it develops.
“In Nigeria, like many other emerging economies, urbanization is outstripping the pace at which homes, offices, roads and bridges are being built.
“An infrastructure deficit and a low degree of industrialization coupled with the amount of natural resources required highlights of the important role, which the construction industry will play in the socio-economic and environmental future of Nigeria.”
According to the statement, the award is relevant to Nigeria because of its huge population, rapid urbanisation and projection for it to become the third biggest country in the world by 2050.
The statement said: “As at 2016, the combined population of Abuja, Benin City, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Onitsha and Port Harcourt (the fastest growing cities in Nigeria) was 31.4 million.
“Their number is expected to swell to 54 million by 2030, according to UN Habitat. There is a pressing need for sustainable urban design and construction in Nigeria.”
It added that the award seeks to recognise and reward high profile projects from professionals and bold ideas from students in the building and environment sector that combine sustainable construction solutions with architectural excellence.
It also seeks projects or ideas that institute the five principles of Progress, People, Planet, Prosperity and Place in providing sustainability for future constructions.
It said that engineers, architects, builders, planners, construction firms, project owners, students and NGOs in the 90 countries where LafargeHolcim operates are eligible to apply.
Entries for the competition, which commenced on July 4, 2016 is expected to close on March 21.