Abiodun Odewale, the Chief Executive Officer of Cemex Portals Limited, has called for the establishment of a stronger industry platform for architects, engineers, builders, developers, financiers, manufacturers, technology providers, policymakers, and artisans. This platform aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and more effective collaboration among these stakeholders.
Speaking at the recently concluded Industrialised Construction Conference held in London, Odewale emphasized the need for learning, adaptation, and localization of ideas to address current realities. These include rising material costs, affordability concerns, unstable supply chains, infrastructure gaps, land issues, and regulatory delays.
Challenges Facing Nigeria's Construction Sector
Odewale noted that Nigeria's construction industry remains a key pillar of national development, supporting housing, infrastructure, job creation, urban renewal, and economic growth. However, he decried that despite its importance, the sector continues to face recurring challenges such as poor coordination, weak documentation, inconsistent execution, rising costs, and avoidable delays.
According to him, the biggest challenge in the Nigerian design and construction sector is not the absence of talent but the absence of repeatable systems. He stated that Nigeria has brilliant architects, engineers, builders, designers, project managers, artisans, and developers. Yet many projects struggle because talent is not always supported by strong systems, clear processes, and disciplined execution. Good ideas are often weakened by poor planning, weak supervision, unclear briefs, and fragmented coordination.
Need for Systems and Process Discipline
After more than three decades in the industry, Odewale believes that the next phase of growth will not be driven by creativity alone but by systems, process discipline, technology adoption, stronger leadership, and a deliberate culture of learning. He identified better problem-definition as a key priority, noting that many projects begin with drawings, budgets, and timelines but without enough clarity on scope, risks, responsibilities, and long-term value. When this foundation is weak, delays, cost overruns, redesigns, and disputes become likely.
He also emphasized the need for better documentation. Too many completed projects end only as photographs or portfolio images instead of becoming case studies that capture what worked, what failed, and what lessons should guide future projects. Odewale stressed the creation of practical construction playbooks to guide planning, communication, procurement, supervision, quality control, site coordination, and project close-out.
Role of Technology and Collective Excellence
Odewale highlighted that such systems help teams deliver with greater consistency, speed, and quality. Technology must also play a bigger role, with digital tools helping construction teams communicate better, track progress, control costs, reduce errors, improve accountability, and deliver better outcomes. As demand for housing, infrastructure, and better urban environments grows, the Nigerian construction industry must move from improvisation to intelligence, from hustle to structure, and from isolated brilliance to collective excellence.
He concluded that Nigeria cannot keep building the future with yesterday's methods. The sector must build better systems, lead better teams, document better knowledge, adopt better tools, and deliver better outcomes.
