WorldStage– The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has declared that nearly 80 percent of building materials used in Nigeria are imported.
Describing the heavy reliance on foreign goods as completely unsustainable, Echono called on Nigerian architects and researchers to spearhead aggressive research into locally sourced alternatives to transform the construction sector, slash the housing deficit, and create millions of jobs.
He made these remarks in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Female Architects of Nigeria.
While Nigeria has made some progress in locally manufacturing tiles, granite, and electrical cables, it still relies on foreign imports for critical building components like doors, windows, and finishing products.
Echono revealed that TETFund’s National Research Fund has expanded its scope, which according to him, no longer restricted to universities and polytechnics; it now accommodates practical research and innovations from all strata of society.
Echono said: “Shifting to local materials will directly retain wealth within the Nigerian economy, lower the soaring costs of construction, and generate widespread employment.
“To bridge the gap between research and commercialization, TETFund will host a National Research Fair at Eagle Square, Abuja, allowing professional innovators to showcase practical inventions directly to venture capitalists and policymakers.”
The chairperson of FAN, Ene Agada, agreed with the initiative, proposing a structured joint working framework to connect academic research with field professionals to build affordable, climate-responsive housing.
