Ikudayisi, A E and Adegun, O B (2025) Pathways for green building acceleration in fast-growing countries: A case study on Nigeria. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 15(3), pp. 450-466. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Green building (GB) development is attracting interest globally, yet many fast-growing countries (FGCs) are underperforming in GB delivery, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. This study aims to identify pathways for accelerating GB development in FGCs, using Nigeria as a case study. Design/methodology/approach: Three-fold research data was employed. First, seven policy documents that are relevant for GB development in Nigeria were sourced, reviewed and analyzed based on content analysis. Second, a systematic literature review (SLR) of thirty-five research articles sourced from the Scopus database was conducted to underscore key research outcomes. Third, an exploratory case study of sixteen GBs was conducted to contextualize the current practice status in Nigeria. Findings: The findings revealed that the few policy efforts in Nigeria skewed largely towards energy efficiency. The challenges associated with GB growth include low level of competency, low investment in the GB market, the dearth of technological enablers and the scarcity of GB project cases. Current project initiatives are diminutive, revealing low certification achievement and scanty public sector participation. Practical implications: This paper presents a unique position for accelerating sustainable architecture and construction based on policy pathways (development of novel codes and sectorial policies, harmonization of standards and performance monitoring), research pathways (development of models, technological enablers and knowledge management) and practice pathways (capacity building, public investment and sectorial collaborations). Originality/value: The paper developed an integrated three-pathway framework for bringing Nigeria’s construction industry up to speed in GB delivery, noting areas where other FGCs need to explore.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change; developing countries; energy efficiency; green building; project delivery; sustainability |
| Index terms: | performance monitoring, certification, case study, capacity building, green building, Nigeria, documents, methodology, database, public sector, collaboration, climate change, sustainable architecture, knowledge management, energy efficiency, Africa, construction industry, systematic literature review, Asia, low level, content analysis, project delivery, developing country, acceleration |
| Subjects: | research evaluation and metrics, design practice, industry analysis, development economics, monitoring and control systems, data management, management, project controls, administrative law, data collection methods, social and economic development, Geography, measurement and scaling, climate science, professional development, design process, regions and continents, administrative processes, sustainability and energy, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, research methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Organizational Design, Legal Issues, Time Control, International Construction, Geographical Context, Procurement, Digital Applications, Human Resources, Sustainability, Contract Administration, Design Practice, Information Management, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here