07/01/2026
Couldnt have said it better myself
To My People in the Construction Sector: Talent Is Not Enough
Let me say this clearly.
If you are a young person in Nigeria today seeking opportunities in the construction industry, please pay attention.
There are many opportunities in construction, but the hard truth is this: many young people are not prepared for them.
From site to site, office to office, project to project, one thing is obvious. We do not lack talent.
We lack courtesy, discipline, and protocol.
I have worked with many young engineers, supervisors, foremen, technicians, and trainees. Many are intelligent. Many are skilled. Some even have strong technical knowledge.
But when it comes to professional conduct, many fail before the work even begins.
Let me explain.
I receive messages, calls and DMs almost every week from young people asking for site opportunities, employment, training, or mentorship.
And it is painful how many lose the opportunity immediately because of poor professional protocol.
For example:
• Someone sends a message like:
“Gud aftn sir. I wnt to wrk wit u on site. I cn do Set out , block n casting. Pls help me.” report bck to mi
How do you expect to be taken seriously on a professional construction site?
• Someone walks onto a site wearing slippers, chewing gum, talking anyhow, and expects to be engaged because “He know work.”
Yes, you may know work.
Yes, you may be talented.
But construction does not reward talent alone.
There is something called the Protocol of Talent (PoT).
If you want to be a site engineer, talent alone will not carry you far.
You must learn the protocol of the construction environment:
• Courtesy and respect
• Proper communication
• Correct dressing and site conduct
• Precision in speech and work
• Documentation and reporting
• Time consciousness
• Orderliness and discipline
• Understanding hierarchy and responsibility
Without these, you may be talented, but the industry will keep rejecting you silently.
I teach. I mentor. I train young professionals.
But one thing I will never do is lower standards to accommodate mediocrity or “anyhow” behavior.
Construction is a serious profession.
Lives depend on what we do.
There is no room for carelessness.
Dear young professionals in construction,
Nigeria has opportunities. Plenty of them.
But opportunities respond only to those who are prepared, not just gifted.
Master your craft.
But more importantly, master the protocol of your talent.
Learn to put oil in your lamp ahead of any opportunity