Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) at the 23rd John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture held in Lagos recently charted a new way for the profession with the induction of 28 new Fellows, while also charging on members to uphold and promote professionalism in all its practice areas.
Nweke Umezuruike, the 15th President of the institution and Chairman of the Memorial Lecture with the theme ‘Deployment of Corporate Systems and Process to the Professions: The Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Perspectives’, said, the characteristics of an institution were far deeper than those of institutes.
According to Umezuruike, the memorial lecture offers the institution an avenue to recognise and honour a man who qualified at a time the white man did not believe the blackman had the integrity to practice professionally.
Utchay Okorji, lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and Principal of Utchay Okorji Associates, speaking on behalf of the inductees, said, “It shows that a lot of things have been done right both at the individual level and as a firm collectively to be recognised by the institution.”
According to Utchay, it has been a challenging and rewarding journey for most of the inductees both at the individual and professional level. “While we know that there is still a lot to be done, it is pleasing to be recognised and conferred with the highest grade of membership of the institution,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of housing deficit in Nigeria, Utchay said estate surveyors and valuers are always in support of the government to see that we meet the housing deficit in the country, and continually follow it through.
The John W. Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture was established as a stand-along event by the founding fathers of the institution because of the importance attached to it. And, it is believed that the newly inducted members into the institution will carry on the touch of the institution further by upholding professionalism in practice.
