The Role of Career Mentorship in Overcoming Challenges Facing Female Construction Professionals: A Nigerian Perspective

Abstract

Women's underrepresentation in the construction business in Nigeria has been a cause of concern. Female construction professionals have historically had difficulty participating in and developing their careers in the building and construction industry. Researchers, on the other hand, are developing frameworks to address these difficulties, one of which is career mentoring. This research looked into the influence of career mentorship in increasing female professionals' involvement and progress in Nigeria's construction sector. In this study, the survey approach was applied (questionnaire). 100 persons were provided with a link to the e-questionnaire, and 78 responses were gathered and examined. The study included women and female students from the professions of Quantity Surveying, Town Planning, Building, Civil Engineering, and Architecture. The two primary issues with the largest percentages of replies were an inhospitable working environment for women and a conflict between work and home duties. Mentors, according to 85.7% of respondents, were responsible for their engagement and success in the Nigerian construction industry. Career mentoring is a long-term approach for ensuring female professionals' participation and progress in the construction industry, according to the findings. Other frameworks' development and investigation will go a long way toward filling the gap in terms of complementing applications.