Assessing Women’s Participation and Contributions in The Construction Industry: Evidence from Niger State, Nigeria (Published)
The construction industry is a major contributor to socio-economic development through employment generation, infrastructure provision, and economic growth. Despite its importance, women remain significantly underrepresented in the industry, particularly in technical, supervisory, and managerial positions. This study assessed the contributions of women in the construction industry in Niger State, Nigeria, by examining their level of representation, roles, barriers to participation, and strategies for improving gender inclusivity. A descriptive survey research design was adopted using a structured questionnaire administered to 291 construction stakeholders comprising professionals, artisans, and managers selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and ranking analysis. The findings revealed that women constitute only 11% of the construction workforce in the study area, indicating substantial gender imbalance. Despite their limited representation, women contribute significantly to project administration, quality management, health and safety compliance, communication, teamwork, and organizational effectiveness. The study identified educational limitations, recruitment bias, gender discrimination, glass ceiling effects, cultural stereotypes, inadequate participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and family responsibilities as the major constraints limiting women’s participation in the construction sector. Furthermore, respondents strongly supported interventions such as gender-inclusive employment policies, promotion of STEM education, flexible work arrangements, mentoring programmes, childcare support, and equal career advancement opportunities as effective strategies for improving women’s participation. The study concludes that increasing women’s participation would enhance workforce diversity, innovation, productivity, and sustainable construction development. It recommends collaborative efforts among government agencies, professional bodies, educational institutions, and construction firms to eliminate structural barriers and promote equal opportunities within the Nigerian construction industry.
Keywords: Construction industry, gender inclusivity, women in construction, workforce diversity
Impact of Construction Industry’s Readiness to Adopt Value Management in Project Delivery in Kaduna, Nigeria (Published)
Despite the global recognition of Value Management (VM) as a strategic framework for optimizing whole-life costs, project quality, and stakeholder satisfaction, its adoption within the Sub-Saharan African construction sector remains fragmented and rudimentary. This study examines the readiness of the construction industry in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria, to adopt VM and assesses its empirical impact on project delivery performance. Utilizing a quantitative survey research design, structured questionnaires were administered to 230 construction professionals (Architects, Builders, Civil Engineers, and Quantity Surveyors), yielding 134 valid responses used for analysis ( net response rate). Descriptive statistics, mean ranking, and simple linear regression analysis were conducted using SPSS v21. The empirical findings reveal that stakeholder awareness of VM remains predominantly low () to moderate (). Current application is disproportionately concentrated in early project stages notably feasibility studies () and conceptual planning () while post-planning, construction execution, and operational phases demonstrate significant decline (). Major drivers for VM adoption include enhanced value for money () and cost control (), whereas implementation is heavily constrained by awareness deficits (), professional skill shortages (), and entrenched resistance to conventional practices (). Statistical testing demonstrates that organizational and professional readiness possesses a statistically significant positive effect on project delivery performance (, , , ). The study concludes that institutionalizing VM requires bridging the gap between professional capacity and institutional policy frameworks to ensure systemic adoption across the total project lifecycle.
Keywords: Construction industry, industry readiness; Kaduna; Nigeria, project delivery performance, value management
A Practical Investigation of Non-Profit Organizations in the Construction Industry (Published)
Construction projects require much effort and capital funding to be successful. Financing is the most crucial piece of the construction projects. Most privately sponsored projects are funded by owner equity. However, this is not the case for non-profit organizations. Many nonprofit owners turn to organizations offering grants for their capital improvement projects as a major source of funding. Much consideration and effort are expended to obtain grants. Many grants carry specific regulations that must be obeyed to qualify and obtain funding. Therefore, finding available funding has become an increasingly difficult endeavor. Limited literature exists to guide non-profit organizations in construction projects. This research is dedicated to investigating the non-profit organizations and their fundings. The research will present a practical investigation based on literature analysis and historical cases for non-profit development projects.
Citation: Atisha Z., Korkmaz K., Ashur S., Jarrah R., Moylan W. (2022) A Practical Investigation of Non-Profit Organizations in the Construction Industry, International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, 10 (3), 1-31
Keywords: Construction industry, capital improvements, grant applications, non-profit organizations
Critical Risks in Construction Projects in Ethiopia (Published)
Construction management is a very important process in order to achieve the objectives of every project in terms of time, cost, quality, and insured safety. But most recent studies most researchers have been focusing on the management of risks rather than identifying the critical risks involved in construction projects. This paper aims to identify the major risks associated with construction projects that expected to affect project performance during the project life cycle in Ethiopia. Various risk factors in construction projects were identified from the literature. Questionnaire survey and interview method was used to collect data from the respondents. The relative importance index (RII) was used for data analysis to identify the major variables. Based on the analysis of the likelihood of occurrence of the risks, this paper identified the critical risks in construction projects in Ethiopia. The research found that the critical risks were mainly unforeseen site conditions, improper design, incomplete contract documents, inflation, lack of timely decision making, scope change, political instability, payment delay, lack approvals, corruption, and poor contract administration. Finally conclusions made from the finding and recommendations forwarded to minimize risks in construction projects.
Keywords: Construction industry, Project Management, Risk
Tax and Taxation in Nigeria: Implications on the Construction Industry Sector (Published)
The pressure for development, public finance and revenue concomitantly attract challenges impacting and impairing on businesses especially in building and construction sector of the economy. Mitigating these responsibilities by various levels of government is the concern for efficient and inclusive fiscal policies for streams of auspicious and sustainable revenue windows particularly taxation. This study therefore examined implication of tax and taxation on the construction sector in Nigeria with a view for industry operator’s decision making. Using extensive review of related literature as well as eliciting primary data through structured questionnaires administered on purposive but randomly selected 100 respondents, elicited data were analysed using descriptive and inferential tools. The result indicated that Value Added Tax and With Holding Tax are most identified , 85% of respondents are aware of the identified taxes while Multiplicity of taxes, corruption risk and lack of confidence in the tax and poor enforcement of tax laws and policies were ranked major inhibiting factors to tax payment. Yet, tax administration was found to have no insignificant effect on tax payment in Nigeria tax system. The study conclusion avail for long-run taxation behaviour on the building and construction sector of the economy and on investment decision, it recommended that appropriate guidance and understanding of tax system and policies required by operators/investors and tax authorities in order to attract tax compliance in the economy.
Keywords: Construction industry, Economy, Nigeria, Public Sector, Tax System