Purpose: The ever-increasing pollution, poverty and poor economy, caused in part by human activities, have necessitated the need for sustainable development (SD) and sustainable construction (SC). This requires reconsidering sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a complementary approach to achieving a sustainably built environment. This paper aims to explore how stakeholder’s engagement can drive the attainment of SDGs in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI), with a view to advancing a sustainable construction industry (SCI) in Nigeria. The study also examines the inhibitors of attaining SDGs in the light of 10 core SDGs that play a sustainable role in the NCI.Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative research approach. Data were collected from 22 stakeholders (practitioners and policy makers) in the NCI through interviews which were transcribed, coded and analysed thematically.Findings: The results deduced that industry-related, government-related and economic, environmental and socio-cultural-related themes inhibit SDGs in the NCI, while SDGs-driven policy implementation, best practices and educating/training themes can be used to attain SDGs in Nigeria. Valuable insights from the findings recommended stakeholders’ engagement in eliminating the influx of quacks, repositioning attitudinal change in governance, streamlining funds for SD, implementing and complying to building regulations, providing professional practice and training stakeholders about the benefits of sustainability in Nigeria.Originality/value: Emerging inhibitors of SDGs are identified, leading to the development of innovative approaches and actions for stakeholders’ engagement, which were missing from previous studies. Stakeholders and the government can use the strategic phases proposed in this paper to advance a SCI in Nigeria.

In recent years, the concept of post occupancy evaluation (POE) of building performance has attracted much attention globally, because of its benefits in enhancing future design decisions. However, developing countries give little or no concern to the practice of improving design outcomes using POEs. In Nigeria, buildings are rarely evaluated once they are handed over to the clients. This study explored the use of POE as a sustainable tool to evaluate building performance in developing countries with a case study of the Nigerian context. Using a systematic literature review, existing and current conceptual body of knowledge in peer-reviewed journals, electronic databases (Science Direct and Google Scholar), conference proceedings, and published articles were appraised; with specific focus to key issues of POE, such as; its definition, evolution, phases, levels, dimensions, application as a sustainable tool for building performance, and benefits. The study revealed that building occupants are a valuable source of information on building performance and POE serves the needs of the building users, and it is critical that the building should be evaluated from time to time to ensure that it is serving its intended purposes. Researchers also suggested that POE methods should be simple and building typology specific. It is suggested that POEs will be a vital tool in establishing best practices and lessons learned in delivering building performance evaluation in developing countries. Hence, the Education of professionals about the process of POE and the methods used, the education of clients by raising their awareness about the benefits of POE in sustaining building performance are suggested strategies for implementing POE in Nigeria and developing countries.

This study complemented the debate for a better outdoor residential experience but gave a perspective from a developing country, using Ewet housing estate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, as a case study. Combining field observation with a questionnaire, data obtained from 150 houses was analysed using descriptive statistics complemented with regression analysis. The results showed that over 60% of the houses were of high quality, however, they were overshadowed by the surrounding lacklustre open space areas. The visual quality of the organisation of the landscape elements had a very strong positive relationship with contribution to amenity value of the neighbourhood. Preference for outdoor activities with recreation, motivation to beautify the premises, and to have a good setting for the house all appeared as positive factors of poor quality development of a residential site. Non-availability of good site design/lack of specification by the housing authority for site development, and inadequate space and site problems, were found to be the major constraints affecting residential site development. The awareness factor had a strong positive relationship with the quality of site development. The study concluded by suggesting a conceptual foundation for improving the process and quality of residential site development in developing countries.

Due to the inadequate attention given to daylighting in lecture rooms in tropical wet and dry climate, this study, using field measurement, evaluates combined daylighting strategies in three lecture rooms labelled LLH, BMS and ANB with distinct bilateral glass louvre windows, window floor ratio, orientation and shading strategies. It determines the difference in illuminance in varied sky conditions, and the relationship between the strategies. Results revealed that under the clear sky condition, combined strategies in LLH and BMS rooms were effective in illuminance performance except during evening hours while the one in ANB was ineffective. Both rooms recorded poor daylight uniformity. Similar performance was obtained under overcast sky but they produced effective daylight uniformity. An effective daylighting was obtained throughout the process in the intermediate sky condition, however, the strategy in ANB room was ineffective in the evening hours. Only ANB room had an effective daylight uniformity in the intermediate sky. The strategy in LLH room had a strong positive relationship with BMS’s. The strategy in LLH had a weak positive correlation with ANB’s, but ANB’s strategy had strong positive correlation with BMS’s. Overall, the study contributes to the performance of combined daylighting strategies in tropical wet and dry climate.