Written By: Peace A. Ezeafulukwe
Amidst the towering skylines and sprawling cities of Nigeria, there lies a hidden predicament. While industries around the world harness the power of technology to soar to new heights, the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry in Nigeria finds itself entangled in a web of challenges.
From outdated practices to a reluctance to fully embrace digital innovation, this vital sector lags behind, unable to keep pace with global standards. As a consequence, infrastructure projects within the country languish in the shadows, unable to compete on the global stage.
To change this narrative and maintain her status as the giant of Africa, Nigeria must explore the urgent need for transformative shift within the AEC sector. This weighty responsibility falls on the shoulders of our youths who must embark on the entrepreneurial path to build technology solutions. However, this is a quest only for the bravest of hearts as the entrepreneurship route means choosing a path less travelled, going against the status quo.
Who dares to embark on this journey to redeem the nation’s rapidly declining glory and shine a spotlight on Nigeria’s potential for innovation?
Meet Kehinde Ayobade Oluwatobi of KS Digital Innovations, a founder determined to bridge the gap and revolutionise the AEC industry in Nigeria.
Kehinde popularly known as KennyStruct; is a graduate of civil engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta who hails from Ondo State, Nigeria.
Kenny’s career was nothing short of divinely orchestrated. “I didn’t have a say in my choice, God used people I didn’t even know to put me on the path he wanted me to tread”, he said.
Still, his entrepreneurial sojourn didn’t start off smooth. At the end of his 1-year compulsory National Service in Bayelsa State, KennyStruct lost his job and was left homeless. What more, he was defrauded of all his life savings (a story for another day)
It was a near-rock-bottom experience. At some point, he even roamed the streets hawking snacks and eggs in buckets. Yet, unfazed he remained, a man on a mission that would not lose sight of his vision. In those moments of flatness, Kehinde invested in learning to master Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Programming skills – using a borrowed laptop.
In February 2021, KS Digital Innovations was birthed and since then, the company has recorded tremendous growth and achievements. From conducting training for staff of several companies to consulting on several projects, KennyStruct has proven that excellence is his watchword. He has worked remotely with organisations in Sweden, Bulgaria, Canada and USA.
In April 2022, he was invited by a University in Illinois, USA to speak to the architectural students. Since then, he has recorded over 20 speaking engagements in schools, universities and organisations both locally and internationally.
Furthermore, , he is also a certified Autodesk Revit Structure Professional – a remarkable feat after acing the exam in one sitting. His passion moved him to create a Revit plugin that automates repetitive tasks, thereby helping structural engineers work faster.
The ingenuity of KS Digital Innovations earned the company the prestigious Outstanding Startup Award at the BIM Africa Innovation Awards 2023 that was held in Morocco in May 2023.
But KS Digital Innovations is just getting started. Recognizing that the construction industry is constantly evolving, they remain dedicated to staying at the forefront of innovation. They therefore invest in research and development to continually enhance their solutions, embracing emerging technologies and methodologies to deliver the most advanced BIM tools to their clients and industry at large.
KennyStruct envisions a future where digital technologies seamlessly optimise efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in construction practices – with KS Digital Innovation spearheading the new era.
He is now building a community of young engineers who dare to challenge the status quo and explore the merging of construction and technology, recognizing it as the future of work.
In the long run, KennyStruct sees himself in academia, contributing as a professor so he can effectively inspire creativity and empower young engineers to develop their own tools and solutions.
“The future belongs to those who innovate.” – Mark Cuban. So, if you are passionate about the future of the construction industry in Africa, then Kehinde Ayobade is definitely someone you should look out for.
Follow on this journey as KS Digital Innovations leads the way – transforming the world digitally!
