Worried about the high spate of issues bedevilling the built environment in Nigeria and the need for
standardisation of industry practice, the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA), Nigeria
Chapter, has called for collaboration amongst stakeholders in the Construction Industry to create a
better living environment for Nigerians.
The President of IFMA Nigeria, ESV Olalekan Akinwumi, made the call at the fourth Facility
Management Advocacy Day which was held in Lagos themed: “Sustaining the Multi-Disciplinary
Role of Facility Management: Harnessing the Prospect of Synergy in the Built Environment.”
Akinwumi explained that IFMA organises the Advocacy Day discourse every year to bring together
professionals in the built environment to bridge the existing knowledge gap in the sector for a more
sustainable industry compliant with best practices worldwide.
He stated that IFMA, being an umbrella body for industry practitioners, is also fostering
professional synergy, which will, in the long run, result in sustainable environments, better life
expectancy, and progress for all and sundry.
Akinwumi said, “There are many gaps within the professionals in the Built environment, and Facility
Management is like the umbrella of all the professionals in this space. This edition is a clarion call for
every professional to work together seamlessly in the built environment. Its ripple effect would save
our souls, resources and ensure that we live in a safe environment.”
In his keynote address, the Special Guest of Honour and former Minister for Works, HE Babatunde
Raji Fashola, SAN, spoke on the political will to enforce deliberations on the Government’s part and
the stakeholders’ willingness to follow through with the recommendations reached.
Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, represented by Engr Femi Akinyelure, urged stakeholders present
to go the extra mile in educating the private sector to get on board the project, which, if sustained,
would save the Nigerian economy astronomically.
“The political will is crucial, and in this case, the Government is leading the pack and has also
created an enabling environment for this sector to thrive. It is therefore pertinent to continue to
encourage the private sector with the understanding that most of the assets in the built environment
are owned by the private sector to key into this rapidly expanding sector of the economy.”
Giving his Goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Works, Dr
Adekunle Olayinka, opined that the state government will provide the necessary infrastructural
assistance to the Association to thrive.
Olayinka, represented by Builder Mrs. Adenike Said, urged all states of the federation to key into the
dream of IFMA to put a permanent end to the challenge of building collapse and its attendant loss
of lives and properties.
“IFMA has shown the spirit of excellence in finding solutions to sustainability and maintenance
issues necessitated by the population of the state and its attendant questions of transportation,
infrastructure, and technology to meet growing needs across the country, especially in Lagos State. I
charge the Association to leverage the opportunities of the strategic position of Lagos as one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world.
Speaking at the plenary, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh
canvassed the need for professionals to perform optimally to protect the life and durability needs of
the end user, stressing that with resources being relatively scarce, it behooves stakeholders to ensure
that end users get value for their money.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), QS Shonubi
Olayemi, charged professionals to uphold the ethics of their trade in line with the most superior
standard of their chosen fields for a more robust and quality-compliant output. He said: “If we are
concerned about this for pecuniary gain, then we are not giving ultimate value to the end user.”
Also speaking at the event, Engr Olayinka Ebiti, the representative of the National President,
Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil said, “Our collective strength lies in
unity, and by fostering collaboration, we pave the way for innovative solutions, sustainable
development, and a resilient built environment.”
ESV Gbenga Ismail, Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV)
Lagos State representative of the National President, ESV Johnbull Amayaevbo, also noted that,
“The need for synergy within the built environment is particularly important in Nigeria, where we
are facing a number of challenges, including rapid urbanization, climate change, and infrastructure
deficit. To address these challenges, we need to adopt a holistic approach to urban planning and
development. This means that we need to break down the silos between different disciplines and
work together to create solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders.”
The goal of the annual Advocacy Day is to entrench standardisation in the built industry, bridge the
existing knowledge gaps, encourage training and capacity building, provide advisory on best facility
management practices, and lead in the campaign on the need to embrace facility management in the
country.
Published on Brandfit