The Nigeria Institution of Builders In Facilities Management (NIBIFM) has tasked its members across the country to prioritise the core of professionalism to compete favourably with other developed countries in line with global best practices.

The NIBIFM National Chairman, Dr. Olufemi Akinsola, said this at the first NIBIFM/Nigerian Academy of Facilities Management (NAFM) yearly general meeting held in Akure, themed: “Facilities Management Trends and Practice.”

He noted that the rising profile of complex structures and smart buildings across the world requires multi-dimensional skills, which led to the birth of Facility Management (FM).

According to him, a high-rise building will require not only a builder to effectively carry out the operational maintenance. He explained that it needs other core professionals like electrical engineers, surveyors and valuers.

“It was this complexity that gave birth to facility management practice where the core practice of each profession is aggregated so that an FM practitioner will have a grasp of each of the contributed core practices.”

He added that “FM is a multidisciplinary professionals dedicated to supporting people, ensures the functionality, comfort, safety, sustainability and efficiency of the built environment: the buildings we live and work in and other surrounding infrastructure.”

Speaking on training and retraining of members on global best practices, he disclosed that the institution, alongside the Nigerian Academy of Facilities Managers, has developed an undergraduate curriculum for universities and polytechnics.

“This will provide a springboard for educational training in the facilities management practice in Nigeria. Currently, the academic programme is situated as a postgraduate study in about four universities in Nigeria.

“The euphoria of FM is not only catching up on the practice area, but it is also extending its arm to the academia. National Diploma curriculum in Facilities Management developed is undergoing industry review before it’s mounted in the polytechnics,” he said.

Akinsola, who proffered solutions to the rising shortages of housing in the country, urged the government to be more involved in the provision of housing schemes to the people through massive investment.

He also implored Nigerians to revive the housing cooperative system, which was inherited in many African communities.

“People should organize themselves into housing cooperatives. We inherited it from our forefathers. In those times, if I want to build my house, youths in my community will provide their labours free of charge; and I do the same for them. It reduces cost.

“We should provide cooperatives that will provide bulk purchases of materials, loop funds that can be deployed towards housing provision. You buy cement and others in bulk at cheaper rates than when you are buying individually.

While presenting the second paper of the maiden event, Mr Siraj Bokinni, iterated the importance of the maintenance manual, describing it as the “metaphorical Bible” for professionals and their clients.

Bokini said it would help, amongst other things, to systematically identify maintenance needs, deficiencies and assessments of conditions of all services.

“Once the manual has become the document, it must be accessible to all. It keeps the ship afloat in ensuring maintenance management activities are fulfilled and ensures compliance with current legislation concerning maintenance management,” he said.