Dr Mercy Ogunnusi

This paper focused on how the 5Rs concepts can be adopted to resuscitate abandoned infrastructure in Nigeria while curbing the challenges faced in the Nigerian environment. Sustainable development is intended to meet present needs without compromising the needs of the generations to come. However, the innumerable number of incomplete and abandoned infrastructure projects in Nigeria brings into question the government's aspirations toward sustainable development in Nigeria. Abandoned infrastructure harms the economy, society and the environment. These infrastructures cluttered the entire environment of Nigeria, and many authors tagged the country as the world's junkyard for abandoned infrastructure, full of hide-outs for nefarious activities. The menace constituted by this abandonment also includes a threat to public health, creating an abode for pests, and a waste of useful, scarce, economic and material resources. The initial concept of the R system of sustainability was 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle, which are alternatives for waste management that progressively gained attention in the 1970s. Nevertheless, a new concept of dealing with waste includes multiple 5Rs systems consisting of a rethink, reduce, reuse, refurbish, and regulation. These new concept attempts to promote waste management required to be done effectively. This paper illustrated how the Rs concept could sustainably address the waste generated by abandoned infrastructure in Nigeria through semi-structured interviews. Eight (8) construction professionals, including architects, Project Managers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Contractors, participated in the interview. The interviews were transcribed and analysed through qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed the need for the government to rethink how best these structures can be put to use, reduce the development of excess infrastructure and salvage projects by refurbishing and reusing them. The possible implication of the findings initiated a paradigm shift in sustainable development that is not just for Nigeria only, but globally.

Purpose Abandonment poses a range of effects detrimental to the development of a country such as Nigeria. Restoring such infrastructure in a sustainable manner is a challenge identified in the literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel approach – the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) to identify the sustainability criteria for the redevelopment of abandoned infrastructure in Nigeria. The literature evidences use of TOPSIS in various development contexts, but not in the context of redevelopment of abandoned infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach This study explores the potential of TOPSIS in the sustainable redevelopment of abandoned infrastructure in Nigeria through a combination of a quantitative method of data collection – questionnaire – and a case study. The case study focuses on the abandoned Federal Government Secretariat in Lagos. One hundred and sixty-one (161) participants responded to the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using TOPSIS analytical technique. Findings Refurbishment is considered as the most sustainable alternative for the redevelopment of abandoned infrastructure. For criteria consideration, structural integrity and foundation categorized under the technological attributes ranked highest for refurbishment and conversion alternatives. Waste generation and prevention and profitability top the list for demolition and procurement respectively. Social implications The social benefit of this study is to bring building considered to be an eyesore back into use. Originality/value The findings from the analysis orchestrates the importance of the built environment research concentrating on innovative frameworks for sustainable redevelopment of abandoned structures in the construction industry.

COVID-19, social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, furlough, palliatives, and many more emerged as the new vocabularies of the entire world, construction industry not excluded. It is precisely a decade from the last pandemic experienced by the human race. However, the most popular disease outbreak called Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced, which hit all the nations of the world within four months and was declared a pandemic in March 2020. This outbreak disrupted businesses around the globe, including built asset procurement and facility management. The United Kingdom, through the Construction Leadership Council, for instance, in responding to this unprecedented situation, published a new Site Operating Procedure (SOP). The effect of this Pandemic in these extraordinary times posed both positive and negative impacts in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO) industry. Its effect has brought about innovative and diverse use of technology in an exemplary manner which may change the course of construction even after the extinction of coronavirus. This study explores the effects of COVID-19 on the built asset procurement and potential opportunities for the construction industry through a quantitative means. A survey was carried out on the built asset procurement professionals for the data collection. 71 questionnaires were received from Architects, Building Engineers, Civil/Structural Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Construction / Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors. SPSS 25 software (a social science statistical package) was used for the analysis of the data. The result reveals some challenges in the area of workflow and supply chain disruption, new policy issues, workers’ anxiety and review of COVID-19 vs Force Majeure in standard forms of the construction contract. However, opportunities evolved in the field of modern procurement planning, the necessity for virtual working and unique design considerations. This study is essential to paving the way for the development of additional contingency plans and a new working strategy in a minimised human contact situation caused by the pandemic.

The Nigerian Government is developing infrastructure guided by the United Nations (UN) call for sustainable development. However, uncompleted government infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings, dams and others) projects litter the entire landscape of the country. This research investigates the causes of infrastructure abandonment in Nigeria through literature review and distribution of questionnaire. It also posits possible solutions to the menace of abandoned infrastructure. Findings from the literature review revealed inefficient procurement processes, defective design, cost overrun, and changes in government (election). From 129 questionnaire distributed to Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, Surveyors, Builders and Construction Procurement Personnel in the built environment both in the public and private sectors in Nigeria, 80 responses were received and analysed with SPSS Pearson Correlation Analysis. The findings from the survey showed that inadequate planning, change in government, faulty procurement, corruption and politics are some of the causes of abandonment. “Changing procurement method” ranked highest in the recommendation for addressing the abandoned infrastructure projects followed by designing with deconstructability in mind. Amongst other recommendations are using innovative management tools and refurbishment of abandoned projects. This research is imperative for the revitalisation of abandoned infrastructure environmentally, economically, and socially and the integration of innovative management tools for the future sustainable procurement of infrastructure.

The incessant reportage of cost overruns and abandoned projects in contemporary literature have accentuated the need for a re-examination of the nature of the cost management strategies deployed to these projects. This study explores the potential of kaizen costing strategy to engender effective cost management within construction project delivery systems in developing countries. Data collected during this study were analysed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and systems thinking approaches to determine the criticality of the factors influencing the effective implementation of kaizen costing. Seven (7) archetypes leading to final causal loop diagram identified the incorporation of the plan–do–check–act approach to project and cost planning, the budgeting system of the construction companies, overhead cost reduction during construction and the overall procurement process. Executing these archetypes will potentially reduce high overhead costs, project cost and time overruns, as well as enhance construction industry sector growth policies and construction organisation corporate governance.

Establishing a more sustainable built environment is an increasing global concern for the construction industry. Despite the intrinsic and extrinsic obstacles the stakeholders face, huge efforts are required to transition to a smooth, sustainable construction (SC) practice. This study identifies and discusses cogent obstacles to SC in developing nations. The Preferred Reporting Item for systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach was employed to establish research work in SC for developing countries. The databases used were Scopus and Web of Science. Meta-analysis of keywords was analysed thematically. The initial broad search returned 8,420 publications which were filtered and reviewed in-depth to fit the aim of the study, produced only 21 relevant publications from the years 2000–2021. The four identified themes of obstacles to SC in developing countries are as follows: construction professional training and education, clients' attitudes and awareness, construction industries' culture and capacity and governments' regulation, policies and economy. The key barriers identified from the meta-analysis include inadequate training and education amongst construction professionals, poor execution of sustainability ethics, poor populace attitude towards sustainability, poor awareness and understanding, dearth of precise data and integrated study and inappropriate priorities about sustainability. The originality in this study are themes drawn from millennium development goals (MDGs) and sustainable development goals (SDGs) publications related to SC. Consequently, the final framework presented a holistic approach to surmounting the established limitations and aided recommendations for future studies. Thus, setting a background for developing strategies to overcome the limitations and further attain sustainable development (SD).

Purpose The construction industry represents most of every country’s finances and vital to continued economic growth and activities, especially in developing countries. The impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 disease (COVID19) on the government’s income resulted in the expectation of many public projects being cancelled or delayed providing little opportunity for the emergence of new public projects. This study collated a global qualitative perspective (survey interviews) on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and the positive and negative impacts for future-proofing the construction sector. Design/methodology/approach In total, 76 respondents from five continents excluding South America responded to the online open-ended structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed through artificial inteligence analytics tool – Zoho analytics. Findings The themes indicating the positive impact obtained from the interview were overhead cost reduction, remote working environment, focus on health and safety, improved productivity and sustainability goals while the themes signifying the negative impact were low business turnover, delays in construction payment and output, difficulties working from home and job losses. Supply chain management, construction project management improvement, concentration on health and safety and effective virtual working environment were collated as themes on lessons learned. Social implications The major findings of this study emphasise on the need to improve the occupational health and safety and onsite safety measures for future proofing of the construction industry. Originality/value The findings from the analyses made clear the imperativeness of the built environment research, with a focus on novel framework and strategies for future proofing the construction industry.

Public building abandonment has a detrimental impact on the advancement of a nation such as Nigeria. Rebuilding such infrastructure sustainably poses several challenges, as identified in the literature. A flexible and dynamic approach is required by decision makers that draws on a range of attributes, alternatives and criteria. This study aims to assess a sustainable, accessible and flexible tool that decision makers can use in place of engaging with complex mathematical calculations and formulas. To test the validity of the tool, two sets of participants (first Demonstration/pilot study – 7 participants and second Demonstration/Expert Validation − 11 participants) were identified for the testing and the validation of the tool. A quantitative data collection approach, making use of a survey and a case study, was considered the most appropriate approach for this study following the demonstration of the model to the participants. From the four alternatives: Refurbishment, Conversion, Demolition and Outright selling, supported with embedded mathematical formulas and calculations, the validated tool presented refurbishment as the most flexible and optimal solution. This study argues that the integration of this tool into the redevelopment process enhances the recognition of a range of solutions for abandoned public buildings in Nigeria. In addition, it concludes that incorporating suitable model configurations into an appropriate tool can foster appropriate decision-making procedures.

Persistent gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remain a global concern, but their occurrences vary markedly across socio-cultural and geographic contexts. This paper presents a systematic review of literature on gendered participation in STEM higher education in the United Kingdom and Ghana, with a focus on barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for reform. Using structured searches across peer-reviewed and grey literature (2015-2025), 33 studies were identified and synthesised through reflexive thematic analysis. Findings reveal persistent challenges: early subject segregation, entrenched stereotypes, micro-level bias, opaque leadership pathways, and uneven access to digital skills, employability support, and mobility opportunities. Geography shapes how these barriers are experienced-UK research emphasises implicit bias, prestige economies, and work-life constraints, while Ghanaian evidence highlights patriarchal norms, rural-urban inequalities, and resource limitations. Despite contextual variation, a shared set of facilitators emerges, including gender-responsive curricula, mentorship, gender-mainstreamed quality assurance, equitable AI/digital skilling, and targeted mobility schemes. The review also identifies critical research gaps, underscoring the importance of context-sensitive yet transferable strategies to advance gender-transformative policy, pedagogy, and institutional reform. We argue for a transversal learning approach-adapting effective practices bi-directionally-to inform gender-transformative policy and programme design that is locally responsive with transnational ties.

The UK construction sector has increasingly encountered cost management inefficiencies in overruns, errors, rework and variations. This study demonstrated how Generative AI (GAI), an emerging trend in digital construction, can foster large language models (LLMs) from the industry's historical data to predict costs. The process of developing the GAI system architecture applied the V-model and agile methodological approach and BIM templates. As used in the UK construction sector, the BIM templates considered data from building cost information service (BCIS) and task information delivery plan (TIDP) to develop the architecture. The system architecture designed in this study aligned with the RICS New Rules of Measurement 1 (NRM1) for early cost advice and text-to-task models. The implication of the GAI system architecture for digital cost management presented in this study elicited the integration of GAI with the BIM processes, offering substantial benefits to the construction industry. This includes streamlined workflows, reduced errors, and improved decision-making. The implications of the system architecture offer opportunities for increased BIM uptake in the UK and the sector globally.

The promotion of uptake of building information modelling (BIM) and circular economy (CE) in the UK and Turkiye construction sectors can be enhanced with the addition of AI. Thus, AI-enabled BIM and CE must be addressed from the viewpoint of current practices and capabilities. This study conducted a comparative study of capability maturity modelling (CMM) backed by a state-of-the-art (SOTA) review of 24 peer-reviewed publications via a validatory approach using a focus group webinar of eight experts in the UK and Turkiye. The findings, as extracted through a validated CMM framework of seven dimensions, were used to identify the position of the UK and Turkiye in terms of AI in BIM and CE. It was discovered that the UK is in a position regarding adoption, government policies and incentives at a defined level. AI growth is required in terms of technological advancement, education and training, industry readiness, cultural attitudes and resistance because they are in a managed phase. It was confirmed that Turkiye is at the initial stage of AI adoption, education, training, incentives, policies, technology and cultural attitudes. The originality of this study lies in the recommendations for a 10-year CMM adoption timeframe towards an optimised level. The conclusions of this manuscript will influence government, education, research and technological policies in the UK and Turkiye.