The study investigated the extent to which the traditional apprenticeship system, a major stakeholder in the
training of building artisans in Nigeria (NHP, 2006), has succeeded in supplying the required artisan for housing
development in Saki, Oyo State. Both primary and secondary data were utilized for the study. Pre-tested set of
questionnaires were used to collect the primary data, and a simple random sampling procedure was adopted in
selecting the samples. A total of 310 respondents, representing 5.5% of the total population were selected. The
study revealed that the existing building artisans in the town were aging-out (66.4% were at least 41 years old)
and the rate of enrollment as apprentice is fast dwindling (from 861 in 1997 to 189 in 2006, at an average rate
of -16% per annum). Most prominent among the reasons proffered for the dwindling enrollment of apprentice
building artisans in the town are: ‘quest for overnight richness’ (61.3%); ‘preference for occupation with little
physical/mental ability requirements’ (51.9%); ‘perceived dirty nature of the occupation’ (36.1%); and,
‘preference for occupation with daily benefits for the apprentice’ (27.1%). Strategies were proposed to tackle
identified challenges.