LASG COLLABORATES WITH IFC ON GREEN BUILDING
. . . Trains Town Planners, Architects, EngineersIn furtherance of the collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the Green Building initiative, the Lagos State Government has teamed up with the World Bank Institution to train built environment professionals in government employment on the ideals of the novel initiative.The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, in his welcome address at the Lagos State – IFC Edge workshop on Green Building, held at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, on Wednesday, said that the Green Building initiative was being adopted by the State Government, in collaboration with the IFC Edge team, as the right way to develop environment-friendly and sustainable buildings that would promote greenery and drastically reduce the carbon footprint in the State.”In clear terms, the Green Building Initiative is aimed at promoting eco-friendly structures known as Green Buildings, which use less water, optimise energy efficiency, conserve natural resources, generate less wastes and provide healthier spaces for occupants”, he said.Salako explained that due to its enormous advantage to the environment and its capacity to accelerate the achievements of the ideals of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, particularly the Health and Environment as well as the Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy pillars, arrangements were in top gear to facilitate the adoption of the concept by all stakeholders in the built environment of Lagos State.He urged Town Planners, Architects, Builders, Engineers and other professionals in government to view their roles as standard-bearers in the physical environment as important and take maximum advantage of the workshop in order to appreciate, promote and facilitate the design and construction of Green Buildings in Lagos State.Attesting to the novelty of the initiative, he averred that the workshop would go down in the history of Lagos State as a major step towards restoration and the attainment of livable and sustainable built environment for the overall benefit of society, adding that the present administration would encourage beneficial collaboration that supports its commitment to the overall management of the environment in a sustainable manner.Also speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe, stated that through the workshop and subsequent training, a team of EDGE experts to become Green Building professionals would be cultivated among participants.She added that the collaboration on Green Building is a response of the built environment sector to climate change and carbon emissions with the advantage of reducing utility bills, carbon dioxide emissions and pollution as well as meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.Explaining the acronym EDGE, Temilola Sonola of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said that it connotes Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency, while serving as a form of certification for Green Buildings.Engr. Sunday Egbike, who is an EDGE Expert, added that the role of EDGE experts include being embedded within the certification process, providing design advice to developers and fulfilling compliance requirements among others.Participants at the workshop, who were drawn from the Ministry and her Agencies, included the General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Mrs. Ajibike Shomade; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Arc. Gbolahan Oki; General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike and General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority, Tpl. Daisi Osho.
