Developing a Social Value Measurement Framework for Construction Projects in Nigerian Urban Communities

Social value, encompassing the broader community wellbeing, employment, and capability outcomes generated by construction projects beyond the built asset itself, is increasingly recognised as a legitimate component of construction project value but lacks a culturally appropriate measurement framework for the Nigerian context. This study develops a social value measurement framework for construction projects in Nigerian urban communities. A transformative research paradigm underpins a participatory mixed-method design, combining community-based participatory research with 420 urban residents across Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), and Maiduguri (North East) with expert practitioner surveys and systematic review of social value measurement instruments from 18 countries. The Nigerian Urban Social Value Index (NUSVI) is developed through four-stage participatory framework construction and tested on 12 construction project case studies. Findings demonstrate that Nigerian urban communities prioritise employment generation for youth, skill transfer, materials localisation, and cultural heritage respect as primary social value dimensions, in ways that differ significantly from Western social value frameworks. The NUSVI demonstrates acceptable reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.87) and discriminant validity across project types. This study makes an original contribution by developing the first culturally grounded social value measurement tool for Nigerian construction, advancing social value theory in a development context. Policy implications address procurement specifications for public and donor-funded construction. Keywords: social value, measurement framework, urban communities, Nigeria, construction