Estate surveyors charged to uphold ethical practice

PROFESSIONAL realtors in Nigeria will not stand out and make meaningful impact in either the construction industry or the country at large, if members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESVs) fail to keep to the ethos of professionalism, Professor Fola Aboaba, has said.

Aboaba, who was the Guest Speaker at the NIESVs’ 11th Biennial Honours’ Night, organised by the institution’s Lagos chapter last week and held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, called all members of group, particularly in Lagos, eschew vices capable of affecting the image and prospects of the profession.

Professor Aboaba, who is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said Nigeria, as a country needed professionals, who are devoted and committed to lift the nation’s fortune and not those whose activities would further worsen the situation. “Right now today, we need people, who are devoted to the country before self. You can do it either individually or as a professional body.

The way to the top is not smooth, it is filled with several challenges; there are hiccups on the ay to the top. One of them is lack of focus on the part of many people.”

Also, the clergy urged the body to shun temptation of acquiring wealth before service, adding that, the love of money above other things would smear the good work or intention of a professional.

According to the university don, integrity is a virtue that will always make a professional in any field, particularly construction industry stand out. “Integrity is the key. Don’t be influenced by anything else apart from the truth”, he charged, lamenting that some professionals do not exhibit this virtue of integrity even in time keeping and management.

Categories of awards at the event were meritorious service awards, which went to past chairmen of the institution, Dr. Patunola Ajayi and Mr. Elias Oversor; corporate awards (real estate), clinched by CAP Plc, Aircom Nigeria Limited and Dangote; corporate awards (media), Realhouse Communications Limited and BusinessDay Media Limited; and outstanding individual award, which was given to Mr. Olatunde Adegbemile, a fellow of the institution.

Earlier, NIESVs’ outgoing chairman, Pastor Stephen Jagun, who through speech appreciated members of the profession for their support for the two years he led the body, listed some of the achievements under his leadership to include: “our programmes have being enriched with all our programs filled to capacity, proper packaging of our events and at befitting venues, more visibility in the press, sponsorship of programmes, making them cheaper and affordable for members and purchase of a brand new bus for the branch debt free.

Right now today, we need people, who are devoted to the country before self. You can do it either individually or as a professional body. The way to the top is not smooth, it is filled with several challenges; there are hiccups on the ay to the top. One of them is lack of focus on the part of many people Also, the clergy urged the body to shun temptation of acquiring wealth before service, adding that, the love of money above other things would smear the good work or intention of a professional.

According to Jagun, under the two-year tenure, which is coming to an end this Wednesday, the institution attended training at Reading, United Kingdom and Dubai Real Estate Institute, visited clusters of members to encourage them and their organisation to participate in NIESVs activities and introduced annual membership card with benefits.

Others are a functional website for the institution was launched, past chairmen gallery at the secretariat’s conference roomed was done; there was reorganization of the secretariat and more members of staff were employed for effectives.

It was also said that within the period under review, a three-year auditing of the institution by external auditors was carried out; there was external training for staff and the body also established cooperative society for the branch. Meanwhile, the institutions also used the occasion to launch a directory and magazine for the branch.