Surveyors
By Modupe Adeloye
Ibadan, March 22, 2018 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that the country returns to the part of sustainable growth and development.
The Vice President said this at the opening of the 2018 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institutions of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Represented by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan, the Vice President said Nigeria’s economy was undergoing a critical period.
According to him, this is the reason the Federal Government is planning and charting a formidable way forward for the much anticipated giant leap in social economic development.
According to him some of the critical areas that will attract Mr President attention is the real estate development sector, which is capable of creating volume of job opportunities that will promote economic development.
The Vice President said that the institution had so much to contribute in the actualisation of this objective, adding that government expected the institution to key into the recovery plan.
“The support, contribution and collaboration of your members and the institution in achieving infrastructure is hereby solicited in the efforts of government toward bringing about the desire changes in the country”
“The Economic recovery and growth plan (ERGP) 2020 of the Federal Government is dedicated on three major objectives, restructuring, growth and investing in our people and building a globally competitive economy.
“The institutions have so much to contribute in the actualisation of this objective.’’
According to him, it is pertinent to note that the ongoing implementation of the ERGP has contributed to Nigeria’s recovery from economic recession.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in his remarks, said for Nigeria to achieve its vision of being one of the top 20 economies in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) size by 2020, it was imperative to give attention to infrastructure development.
He said all stakeholders in nation building, government and private sectors alike, must focus on investment in infrastructure, which promotes good living.
“We should take a cue from developing countries, study their models, and tap from their capital and human resources where necessary.’’
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olalekan Alli, the governor said that his administration had embarked on massive infrastructure development, instead of focusing on palliatives that were temporary.
“Government anywhere in the world should be conscious of the fact that infrastructure development is their core responsibility and should, therefore, spend expediently toward it.’’
Ealier, the President of NIESV, Joshua Patunola-Ajayi, urged the Federal Government to establish the office of the Valuer-General both at the federal and state levels.
According to him, the establishment of the Valuer-General Office is part of efforts in rebranding our faculties to be more specialised in their activities so as to help the institution compete favourably as a profession.
He said that the 48th annual conference is a platform that brings together professionals in various disciplines to share ideas and resources on how to chart a way forward for the next generation of estate surveyors and valuers. (NAN)
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Editing by Ese E. Ekama