LafargeHolchim’s commitment to sustainable development of rapidly urbanizing countries of the world has remained unmatched as the company has mapped out $2million to reward winners of a competition that addresses sustainable construction.
The company disclosed recently Nigeria that entries are still open for the 5th International LafargeHolcim Awards which commenced on July 4, 2016, and that 26 participants from Nigeria, comprising of 14 professionals and 12 students have so far submitted entries for the Awards of which submission of entries would close on March 21, 2017.
The competition, LafargeHolcim explains, seeks projects or ideas that address sustainable construction by setting the principles of sustainability for future constructions, and is also expected to critically evaluate the 5Ps in modern construction which are Progress, People, Planet, Prosperity and Place.
The free entry competition, which requires comprehensive “Step-by-step” guide that fully explains the evaluation criteria and gives instructions on how to prepare an entry, is available on the LafargeHolchim website.
Lafarge Africa Plc’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Michel Puchercos, who expressed delight that more Nigerians are taking advantage of the prospect offered by the award, said “Nigerian professionals and students participating in the competition live and work in some of the fastest growing cities in the world. The competition is therefore an opportunity to address the myriad challenges of urbanization as it develops.”
Puchercos said that urbanization is outstripping the pace at which homes, offices, roads and bridges are being built in Nigeria, like many other emerging economies, adding that an infrastructure deficit and a low degree of industrialization, coupled with the amount of natural resources required, highlight the important role of construction industry in the socio-economic and environmental future of Nigeria.
This edition of the sustainable construction competition, he said “is seeking smart solutions for cities and the built environment. Engineers, architects, builders, planners, construction firms, project owners, students and NGOs”
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building materials company is a member of LafargeHolcim, the world leader in building materials. The company is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with a presence in Africa’s two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa. Lafarge Africa is actively participating in the urbanization and economic growth of Africa.
Meanwhile, the LafargeHolcim Awards, which is open to students and professionals in 90 countries where the Group operates is the most significant global competition in sustainable design.
It seeks to recognise and reward high profile projects from professionals as well as bold ideas from students and upcoming professionals in the built environment sector that combine sustainable construction solutions with architectural excellence.
The award is relevant to Nigeria, a country of over 170 million that is urbanizing rapidly and is projected to be the third-biggest country in the world by 2050. As at 2016, the combined population of Abuja, Benin City, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Onitsha and Port Harcourt (the fastest growing cities in Nigeria) was 31.4 million; their number is expected to swell to 54m by 2030, according to UN Habitat. There is, therefore, a pressing need for sustainable urban designs and construction in Nigeria.
