The Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Samson Ameh Opaluwah, has called for urgent adoption of climate-friendly construction practices to address the growing threats posed by climate change and ensure sustainable development across Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 3rd Environmental Design Conference (EDCON) organised by the Faculty of Environmental Design of Ahmadu Bello University, Opaluwah said the future of construction in Nigeria must embrace green building principles, climate-responsive architecture, renewable energy integration and resilient infrastructure systems capable of withstanding environmental and socio-economic challenges.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Reimagining Sustainable Futures: Exploring Innovative and Integrated Designs for Eco-Friendly and Resilient Communities,” the CORBON chairman warned that communities worldwide were increasingly facing the effects of climate change, rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, infrastructure deficits and resource depletion.
According to him, these challenges are particularly severe in developing countries such as Nigeria, where inadequate planning, weak infrastructure systems and poor maintenance culture continue to hinder sustainable development efforts.
”Moving beyond conventional construction practices towards sustainable construction systems that emphasise lifecycle thinking, durability, resource efficiency and environmental stewardship cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
Opaluwah stressed that sustainability should no longer be viewed as an environmental aspiration alone but as an economic necessity and social responsibility, noting that resilient design and construction strategies were needed to protect communities from flooding, extreme heat, erosion and other climate-related disasters.
He urged environmental design professionals, builders, architects, engineers and planners to adopt integrated and multidisciplinary approaches in designing communities that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, economically viable and technologically adaptive.
The CORBON chairman also challenged universities to take a leading role in developing sustainable local building materials and resilient construction technologies that could improve housing delivery and reduce dependence on foreign solutions.
He advocated stronger collaboration among academia, industry and government, describing the “Triple Helix Model” as a critical framework for accelerating national development through research, innovation and policy support.
Opaluwah noted that technological innovations such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), smart materials, renewable energy systems and Artificial Intelligence were transforming environmental design practices globally and should be embraced by Nigerian institutions and professionals.
He encouraged the integration of indigenous knowledge and locally sourced materials into modern construction practices, arguing that such approaches would lower environmental impact, preserve cultural identity and make housing more affordable.
The CORBON chairman said the council remained committed to promoting sustainable construction through improved regulations, professional capacity building, digital transformation and strategic partnerships aimed at improving project quality and building safety.
He urged participants at the conference to develop practical and innovative solutions that would help create safer, greener and more resilient communities.
”The decisions we make today regarding design, construction, planning and resource utilisation will shape the future of our cities and communities for generations to come,” he said.
The conference brought together academics, researchers, students and industry professionals to discuss strategies for advancing sustainable environmental design and resilient community development in Nigeria.
