Experts want role for professionals in policy-making

STIRRED by the need to improve its prospects for sustained growth and development, members Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos Branch have advocated for effective  professionals’ involvement in policy formulation and execution.
  
They spoke at the 11th Annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture, last week organised by the institution that attracted stakeholders including members of the academic, top business icons, diplomats, among others. The theme of the event was

“Landscape: Challenges and Responsibilities for African Future”, with Chancellor, Lead University, Ibadan Oyo state, Professor Gabriel Ogunmola as guest speaker while Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora was the Chairman of the occasion.
 
NIS Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Gbenga Alara, who extolled the legacies of the late Adekunle Kukoyi, said the past memorial lectures have contributed, not only by setting agenda for national development, but also brought into the fore, the best of brains by the successive speakers and lecturers that had graced the occasion.
      
He said: “Besides, as leaders in our different spheres of influence, we are always confronted with challenges of management, ethics, healthcare, good governance, values, culture, morality and integrity, including challenges of parenting.
      
Describing the theme of the event as ‘timely and appropriate, Ambassador Fafowora noted that professionals should be accorded the respect and attention they deserve and merit. “It is my impression that professional associations are not accorded the desired attention, very often, they are not consulted on policy matters that affect them, or that are of direct interest to them.

“ Professional associations should be regarded by the government and the entire public sector as stakeholders, partners in progress, and not adversaries as is the case now”, he said.
  
According to him, it is time to move towards a corporate system of governance in Nigeria, one in which the private sector, particularly, professional bodies such as the surveyors are taken seriously by the government, while their views taken into account in the formulation of government policy.
 
The NIS President, Ben Omo-Akhigbe, in his remark, urged practitioners to be diligent in their endeavours and strive to be leaders of people just like lake Kukoyi, who shunned government’s appointment just to be able to stand his feet by seeing that what is right was being done.

“If Kukoyi wanted to satisfy personal aggrandizements, he wouldn’t have rejected the offer to be the surveyor-general of Lagos State. But because he wanted to put government of his time on their toes to do the right things at all times.