Obaze Tell Nigerian Architects To Assist In Infrastructure Development

Awka, 21/10/16: Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, MD/CEO Selonnes Consult Ltd. and immediate-past SSG of Anambra State has challenged Nigerian architects to protect the integrity of their profession and be proactive in the development of national infrastructure.

Speaking to the two-day conference of the Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects in Awka, on Friday 21 October 2016, Obaze said "government has a role to play in regulating and preserving national property, but so do we as individuals and professionals." He said that some architects indicted for the spate of collapsed buildings Anambra experienced in 2014, were yet to be sanctioned.

In his hour-long address, for which he received a standing ovation, Obaze also averred that "Regardless of what we do as a nation, no matter how we covet the inspiration and vision that transformed Singapore and Dubia, if we have leaders who lack vision and commitment, we remain at risk of underperforming and underdevelopment.

"We cannot therefore speak of infrastructural development without first grasping sectoral priorities and sectoral niches affordability and areas where we must strive for comparative advantage. We must of necessity determine what our focus sectors are, those being areas where we can exact "high impact value".

We must also seek the requisite synergy and complimentarity between the government and the organized private sector and indeed, with private entrepreneurs aimed at collaborating purposefully, while sharing the responsibility for building our national infrastructure.

"It remains a fallacy to think or expect government alone to build the national infrastructure. Government role remains that of regulator and partner in operating the Nigerian economy and creating the enabling framework and enabling environment. Yes, government retains the core responsibility and must tackle the chunk of the infrastructure required for national development, down to the municipality and local government level.

However, consortiums and private investors also do have a vital role to play. This is to say that there exist and will always be cross cutting niche sectors where government, consortiums and individuals can partner, under the rubric of Public Private Partnership (PPP)."