Odunsi becomes RICS Nigeria chairman

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Nigeria Group has elected Tayo Odunsi, former Chief Executive Officer of Northcourt Real Estate as its new chairman.

The 60-year-old institution draws membership from built environment professionals such as estate surveyors and valuers, quantity surveyors, land surveyors, and project managers. Founded over 150 years ago in the United Kingdom, RICS has remained a “mark of property professionalism” all over the world.

Odunsi was inaugurated as the chairman at the group’s yearly conference that focused on technology infrastructure and its role in creating a connected Nigeria. Speakers included TMT Leader, Deloitte West Africa, Oluwole Oyeniran; CEO Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson; CEO Smart Lockers, Benjamin Adeyemo; CEO ATC Nigeria, Soji Maurice-Diya, and Executive, Africa Venture Capital at International Finance Corporation, Elom Lassey.

The RICS Nigeria Groups’ new Executive Committee includes CEO of Trillium Real Estate, Lanre Fatimilehin (Vice-Chairman); Partner, Jide Taiwo & Co, Lawunmi Olashore (Secretary); CEO Northcourt Real Estate, Ayo Ibaru (Asst. Secretary), CEO Estate Intel, Dolapo Omidire (Publicity Secretary), Director, Broll Nigeria, Babafenwa Omoniyi (Treasurer) and others.

Speaking at the RICS conference, Oyeniran said technology infrastructure is no longer a luxury but an essential driver of development. “From data centres anchoring digital ecosystems to fibre-optic networks enabling seamless communication, these systems form the backbone of modern connectivity,” he said.

Odunsi exited Northcourt last year and runs Build Africa Technology Company, an e-commerce company focused on building materials and promoting environmental consciousness in the construction process.