Afe Babalola to Fed Govt: choose Nigerians over expatriates for construction

Founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to give priority to Nigerian experts, rather than expatriates, in bridge, rail and airport construction rather than to expatriates.

He said Nigerian professionals are skillful and have the brains to take over from expatriates.

The legal luminary said this in Abuja during the 2020 induction of fellows of the Nigerian Institute of Building.

Babalola was represented by Prof. Yemi George (SAN).

“He identifies with the Nigerian institution of building in their struggle for professionalism for the eradication of quackery in Nigeria, development of skills by Nigerians and the growth of the building profession in the country.

“Nigerian builders can take over from expatriates and begin to build not just houses but bridges, roads, railways, airports and all the mega structures because they have the brains and they can do it; just like Afe Babalola has built a university that is one of the fastest growing universities in the country.

“Nigerian builders can do same by being the best in Africa, competing with their colleagues all over the world,” George said.

Chairman of the College of Fellows (COF) for the institute, Ehikioya Anegbe said the institute had taken numerous steps, including the novel establishment of annual Builders’ Day celebration in March, to sensitise Nigerians on the risk of building collapse and the role of builders in checking the evil.