Abstract
Artisans occupy a pivotal position in the economic advancement of numerous nations, with a particular emphasis on developing countries. The enhancement of artisans' capacity in the Nigerian construction sector encompasses the augmentation of their skills, knowledge, and access to resources, hence facilitating their optimal performance. Various stakeholders in the construction industry, including individuals in academia, government agencies such as the Ministry of Works and Housing, construction companies, non-governmental organizations, and organized private sectors, have collectively acknowledged the significance of enhancing the skills and abilities of artisans. Consequently, they have undertaken diverse programs and initiatives aimed at providing support to these individuals. These schools offer vocational training to those specializing in numerous vocations, including block laying and masonry, among other disciplines. Notwithstanding the existence of these initiatives, there continue to be enduring obstacles in the enhancement of artisans' capacity. This research aims to explore the means through which craftsmen might accomplish capacity development, as well as the aspects that contribute to the capacity development of artisans.
Therefore, the main aim of this study is to examine and propose a comprehensive framework that can efficiently facilitate the enhancement of skill development among craftsmen operating in the construction sector of Nigeria. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of many aspects, such as soft skills, education and training, artisanal engagement, motivation, information and communication technology, and mentoring methods, on the enhancement of artisans' capabilities.. These factors were categorized as exogenous variables in the research model. Therefore, this study examined and conceptualized the enhancement of artisans' capacity in the context of developing nations through the utilization of a mixed-method approach, specifically employing the Delphi and survey methodologies. The inquiry produced findings in three specific domains, specifically, the theoretical dimensions of studies on the development of craftsmen' capabilities. The results of the study demonstrated that it successfully tackled the lack of theoretical understanding of the crucial aspects that significantly influence the enhancement of craftsmen' capabilities within the building sector. Moreover, the presence of latent variables contributes to the outcome variables associated with the growth of artisans' capacities, hence enabling the measurement of said development. Moreover, the study's results also indicated that the enhancement of artisans' capacity is a multifaceted construct consisting of six factors: soft skills, education and training, artisanal participation, motivation, information and
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communication technology, and mentoring process management for craftsmen. Additional findings pertain to the field questionnaire survey, wherein it was seen that the hypotheses were deemed valid.
The results of the final model indicate that there are major factors contributing to artisans' capacity development. These factors include soft skills, education and training development, artisanal engagement, motivating attributes, information and communication technology, and mentoring process management. Moreover, the results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that the model's goodness-of-fit and the statistical significance of the parameter estimates fulfilled the established criteria for assessing the appropriateness of the proposed model in relation to the gathered sample data. This study posits that stakeholders in the construction industry, including construction firms, government entities, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers in the organized private sector, should take into account the validated constructs when formulating and executing capacity development programs. The primary objective of these programs is to augment the proficiencies and capacities of artisans operating within the construction industry in Nigeria. Moreover, the existing conceptual framework of artisan capacity development will function as a scholarly point of reference for forthcoming researchers investigating the enhancement of human capacity.
Keywords: Artisans, Capacity development, Construction industry, Structural equation modelling, Nigeria.