LafargeHolcim seeks more entries for $2 million construction awards

Despite receiving a total of 26 Nigeria entries made up of 14 professionals and 12 students for the fifth edition of the global LafargeHolcim award for sustainable construction, the firm is calling for more entries from professionals and students.

Head, Sustainability and Corporate Brand, Lafarge Africa, Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun said Nigeria engineers, architects, builders, planners, constructions firms, project owners, students and non-governmental organisations working for the built industries are eligible to apply.

She urged Nigerians to be encouraged by the feat achieved by Nigerian-born Kunle Adeyemi, who won the Acknowledgement prize in 2014 Lafarge Holcim award for Chicoco Radio: The amphibious building in Delta city of Port Harcourt in Nigeria and the fact that entry is free.

According to her, the Lafarge Holcim award, is opened to students and professionals in 90 countries where the group operates and is the most significant global competition in sustainable design.

Entries for the global award, which focuses on sustainable construction and valued at $2 million commenced on July 4, 2016 and closes on March 21, 2017.
The award is relevant because Nigeria with over 170 million population is urbanizing rapidly and is projected to be the third biggest country in the world by 2016.

Speaking on the entries, Lafarge Africa Plc’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executing Officer, Michel Puchercos expressed delight that more Nigerians are tapping into the opportunity offered by the award.

He said: “ Nigerian professional and students participation in the competition live and work in some of fastest growing cities in the world. The competition is therefore an opportunity to address the myriad challenges of urbanisation as it develops.

“ In Nigeria, like many other emerging economies, urbanisation is outstripping the pace at which homes, offices, roads and bridges are being built”, he said.