The senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to professional bodies to pay attention to ensuring a transformative impact on society to assist the government in delivering national development. He made the call while delivering a speech as the chairman of the occasion at the inauguration lecture and ceremony of the 26th president of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) on June 8, 2024, in Abuja
The senate president said the NIESV is renowned for its exceptional reputation and unwavering dedication to ethical conduct and serves as a shining example of integrity “within the realm of valuation and real estate”.
He noted that with the President of the institution, ESV Victor Adekunle Alonge at the helm as newly inaugurated president of the institution, “there is no doubt that this institution will continue to thrive and spearhead the transformation of the built environment”.
Speaking further the senate president said “However, let us implore NIESV to lead the charge in curbing the exploitation of tenants by real estate agents, particularly in bustling cities like Lagos and Abuja. We look to this esteemed organization to establish industry standards and elevate the professionalism of real estate agents, ensuring effective monitoring and enforcement.
“By accomplishing this, the Tenth National Assembly will be encouraged to enact laws that prioritize the welfare of Nigerians, confident that NIESV safeguards their interests and promotes the greater good, thereby relieving our people of these burdensome challenges.
“Today marks a momentous occasion as we come together to celebrate the Inauguration Lecture and Ceremony of the 26th President of NIESV. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Victor Adekunle Alonge and his council for their unwavering dedication to professionalism, patriotism, excellence, and service to humanity”.
He noted that the experiences of reputable professional bodies in nations such as the United Kingdom and Singapore were significant as it was important to reflect on the roles of professional bodies in national development.
The senate president stated further that in the United Kingdom, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) “has played a pivotal role in shaping policies, setting standards, and driving innovation in the fields of surveying and urban planning”.
He further explained that the contributions of professional bodies have advanced the built environment and fostered sustainable development across the United Kingdom with the same in countries such as Singapore where the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) “have been at the forefront of promoting excellence, professionalism, and best practices in the construction and real estate sectors”.
The senate president called for more collaboration with government agencies and industry stakeholders as such has enabled companies to make significant contributions to Singapore’s success as a global hub for urban innovation and sustainable development.
He said “As we contemplate the transformative impact of professional bodies on national development, let us strive to emulate the successes of these esteemed bodies and forge partnerships that will propel Nigeria towards a future of prosperity, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
“We must acknowledge the tireless efforts of our legislators in the Senate, who have championed the cause of surveying and valuers in Nigeria through groundbreaking legislation and visionary policies that uphold the highest standards of integrity”.
Delivery lecture of the day, the guest lecturer, distinguished Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who is the leader of the Nigeria senate said that professional bodies such as the NIESV can advocate for policies that will promote job creation, reduce poverty, and improve the standard of living of Nigerians.
On his part, the newly inaugurated president of the NIESV, ESV Victor Adekunle Alonge said Real Estate remains the most priced and valuable asset all over the world citing data obtained from Savills World Research. He noted that the total value of the global real estate assets is estimated at US$379.7 Trillion at the end of 2022 which, according to him, outpaced the combined value of global equity and bond assets estimated at $264 Trillion.
“Real estate is also thrice as valuable as the total value of proven global oil reserves and represents about four times the value of global GDP” he stated.
He went further to assure that the NIESV under his watch will continue to play the important role as a reliable partner with the government and critical stakeholders in efforts to deliver good governance to the good people of Nigeria.
