Research
An Appraisal of Career Development among Female Professionals in the Nigerian Construction Industry
There are limited empirical studies on factors preventing female professionals from working in the construction industry. Thus, this study becomes imperative with a view to identifying and assessing the career development programmes and strategies as well as the impediments relating to career development programmes. The primary data consists of survey questionnaire, drawn on the basis of the identified career development programmes and the impediments relating to career development programs on existing literature. Random sampling technique was employed in the administration of the questionnaire to professional in consulting and contracting firms within the built environment in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. The data were analyzed using statistical methods of average, percentage, mean score (MS), Kruskal Wallis H test and Mann Whitney’s U test. The results of the mean score ranking indicate factors influencing female professionals’ participation in construction industry. However, the result of the Kruskal Wallis H test and Mann Whitney U test support null hypothesis. Also the result of the mean scores further show career development programmes and strategies, the result of Kruskal Wallis H test and Mann Whitney U test were significant. Finally, the result shows the impediments to career development programs and strategies. The study revealed career development programmes and strategies, this would provide necessary information to the government, stakeholders and employers of labour in the construction industry to ameliorate skilled shortages, enhance productivity and performance in the construction sector.
Factors Influencing the Implementation of Public Infrastructure in Nigeria
Nigerian infrastructure development depends substantially on public financing. However, projects budgeted for execution in most cases seems to be not fully implemented with the result that the projects are either partially implemented or abandoned. This situation has become worrisome in therecent time especially when private sector participation in the provision of infrastructure is only slowly forthcoming. This study assessed the implementation ofeducation, rural/urban electrification, health, transportation, water, and housing infrastructure projects budgeted for execution during the period of 1999-2008 in Osun State, South-western, Nigeria and the factors that impacted the level of implementation. Data for the study were collected through structured questionnaire administered on 74 construction professionals and 32 financial administrators in the public service of the State. In addition, field survey of 72 infrastructural projects budgeted for execution for 1999-2008 fiscal years was carried out. Data analyzed was done using percentage, mean score and relative significance index. Factors identified as critical to implementation of public financed infrastructure are those of slow disbursement of funds after budget approval, political will and commitment of government to execute projects, time of passage of budget, connectivity between budget size and proposed infrastructure projectsand level of involvement of the construction professionals in the budget preparation process
