RICS Harps on Embracing Change in Property Services

Mary Ekah

The Chairman, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Omotosho, has emphasised the need for estate surveyors to embrace change even as the real estate industry is changing. Speaking during a recent conference held in Ikeja, Lagos, Omotosho, who is also the Senior Partner of J.O Omotosho & Associates, a firm of Chartered Surveyors, Estate Surveyors & Valuers, with offices in Lagos and London, said, “It is imperative that as the global world and the real estate sector is changing, we do as well but with utmost awareness of the evolution taking place.” Still stressing on the need to embrace change, the Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in the U.K, and an Associate of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, said these changes have been instrumental in the forward movement in the real estate sector in an evolving world and business cycle, adding, “This can be brought home to our real estate and construction sector which is changing as the world does.”

Speaking further, Omotosho who explained that change is an essence which could most times depict progress, noted, “It is a key tool required in taking strides. Through varying centuries, there have been several disruptors such as information and technology which has led to changes and influenced the curse of the society,” he added.

The event which had the theme, ‘Embracing Change in the Property Services’ was graced by the Head of Property, Nigeria and West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Anne Rinu, guest speaker of the day who spoke on the topic, ‘Change: Why Change?’

During her presentation, Rinu said, “In recent times, we have seen changes across all spheres in the real estate world. These changes are largely decided by clients who we all represent as service providers in various spheres of real estate services (landlords, developers and tenants). She said however that there have been changes in the quality of space delivered into the market by landlords/developers as well as changes in space requirements by respective tenants/occupiers. Rinu who noted that as professionals, estate surveyors must be aware that changes come as a result of inherent challenges, adding that the solution to some of these challenges brings about the desired changes.