Bricklayers seek support as more youths, women join profession

 

Female bricklayers at Lagos State Bricklayers Association

Bricklayers

Spectacle- The Lagos State Government has called for more youth involvement in bricklaying, noting that many bricklayers are in their 60s.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, made the call at a two-day event to mark the 2025 Bricklayers Week in Lagos.

The event was organised by the Lagos State Bricklayers Association.

Ogunlende said the older bricklayers had “laid the foundation”, and urged young people to build on their legacy.

He expressed satisfaction with the increasing participation of women in the trade, and gave the assurance  that the state government, through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund  and other initiatives, would continue to support youth development.

The President of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr Oyebamiji Dauda, thanked the Dangote Group for its continuous support for the association.

He  appealed for more assistance from the Dangote Group.

“The requests include a branded vehicle for the association, branding of all association offices in local government areas with Dangote Cement logo, and employment opportunities for members’ children.

“We also appeal for recognition of our members as Dangote Cement ambassadors, empowerment programmes for the youth, and opportunities for qualified members to become Dangote cement distributors,” he said.

The Lagos Regional Director of Dangote Cement, Mr Tunde Mabogunje, said the company regarded bricklayers as “partners in progress”.

He said the Dangote Falcon cement brand was gaining wide acceptance, and pledged further support from the Dangote Group, especially for women entering the profession.

Mrs Sandra Okolo, a female bricklayer and Mathematics graduate from the University of Lagos, said she left a real estate job to learn bricklaying because she wanted to understand the work better.

According to her, the trade is expanding among women in Lagos, Rivers and Ogun.

She hoped that more women across Nigeria would go into bricklaying.

Okolo said that bricklaying  required strength and skill, adding that training, discipline, dignity and integrity would help women to succeed in the field.

The event featured presentation of awards to six elderly members of the association.

About 200 bricklayers from  local government areas in Lagos State participated at the event.- (Spectacle)