By Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has called on Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the State to bring their professionalism to the forefront in the society, saying that the profession is critical to the development of any society.
The governor stated this today during the 2015 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Workshop of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Delta State Chapter, with the theme “Land Acquisition for Infrastructural Development: Challenges and Options,” held at Best Western Hotel, Asaba.
The Governor reiterated the importance of estate surveyors and Valuers in the workings of government as regards acquisition of lands and payment of compensations to land owners by government for infrastructural development.
The governor who was represented by former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Dr. Martins Okonta, also said that without the presence of estate surveyors and Valuers no society will be organized.
He added that if due processes concerning land acquisitions and compensation are not followed by government at all levels, there might be delay in infrastructural development in the country as government has to deal with litigations and protest by the owners of the land.
He said estate surveyors and Valuers must make themselves strong in order for the society to recognize their value, asking, “if you do not put up what you know to the society, how will the society recognize you?”
Also speaking at the workshop, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Dan Okenyi urged the surveyors to prove to the world that they are true professionals who know their worth in the society.
Chief Okenyi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land, Survey and Urban Development, Mr. Sam Adjohwenyo, also urged members to take the workshop seriously as it is a professional course, noting that “surveyors and values should form the habit of updating themselves with new knowledge as we a living in a fast world where things change every day.”
He said; “In this kind of program, you memory is refreshed and you are alive to your professional knowledge and alive to what is happening around estate surveying and valuing.”
Earlier in his opening speech, the Delta State Chairman of the NIESV, ESV Sir Efe Appih stressed on the need for professionals to develop their professional skills for efficient service delivery.
He said the dynamics of real estate practice in relation to global best practices and the need to always be on top of every professional situation was the reason why NIESV undertakes annual training of members through it’s mandatory continuing professional development workshops.
Resource persons at the workshop include; Chief Gershome E, Henshaw, Dr. Victor Akujuru, Dr. Rotimi Kemiki, Dr. Alexander O. Olisedeme and Mr. Christopher I. Okolo.
