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Development within the construction industry shows that higher education is critical in the sector’s skills improvement. However, research findings are also explicit about absent and shadow integration of core sustainable construction modules for built environment’s curricula. The study aimed to examine issues critical for the integration of sustainability element in the built environment curricula. It outlined two objectives which: (1) to determine the causes for the low integration of sustainability elements in academic curricula and, (2) to identify the principal factors inhibiting the integration of sustainability elements in academic curricula in Nigeria. Data for the study was obtained using a questionnaire survey administered to a random sample of 186 academic stakeholders related to schools of the built environment across Nigeria with factor analysis was subsequently employed to analyze the survey data. The results showed that seven principal factors inhibit and are responsible for the dearth of sustainable construction modules in built environment academic curricula in Nigeria. These are: (1) Skills and knowledge dearth, (2) Lack of empowerment to effect change, (3) Low level of awareness, (4) Lack of green building council, (5) Lack of real-life sustainable projects, (6) Non-prioritization by accreditation bodies and (7) Lack of research and industry collaboration. The findings suggest that strong government policy and viable industry and academic collaboration are imperative to effect curriculum change in support of the integration of sustainability element in the built environment curricula. The findings reported in this paper is significant as a basis to inaugurate the development of academic curricula which integrates the sustainability elements, capable of driving behavioural change to adapt sustainability practices among graduates.

Material waste reduction or minimisation reflection is essential in the studies of construction waste management, and it cannot be overstressed due to waste impact on project performance and outcomes. There are some construction methods and on-site management practices, termed in this study as material waste control construction methods (MWCCM), adopted from the manufacturing sector, that can curb the level of material waste generated on-site. The purpose of this study is to assess the extent of utilisation of MWCCM for alleviating material waste problems and domestically establish their potentials in reducing waste on-site. The correlation and relationship between MWCCM and material waste generated (MWG) on-site were determined. The study was carried out in the six States of South-South geopolitical zone in Nigeria using a work study manual to collect data from the selected on-going projects in the study area. The descriptive research survey design approach was espoused for the study, and the data were analysed with canonical correlation. The study findings revealed that the squared correlation coefficient (r 2 ) type effect size was 0.808, showing that the full model clarified a generous segment, about 81% of the variance shared between MWG and MWCCM. It demonstrates unique relationship between MWG and MWCCM with F = 2.918 at p < 0.05. Sequel to the results derived by this study, conclusions were reached that there are a significant correlations and relationship between MWG and MWCCM. Hence, MWCCM has great potential for reducing material waste on site. The study recommended MWCCM for use to assuage the menace of material waste generation on site, thereby improving the performance of project delivery.

Abstract:The study investigates the level of construction material waste generated on building sites in South-South, Nigeria. The objective is to empirically establish the level of waste generated on building sites and compare such with the allowable value in estimates. Data were collected from 30 on-going public building projects for six months. The level of material waste was calculated in percentages while one way ANOVA was employed to compare the waste values among the States in the zone. The significant difference between actual and allowable values of waste was tested using paired t-test. The level of material waste was found to be 11.69, 12.10, 10.45, 14.54, and 12.07 for concrete blocks, steel reinforcement, timber, and tiles respectively. It was concluded that these values are significantly different, with p-values < 0.05, from the allowable waste. The study recommends that the values of waste derived by this study be adopted in estimates.

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