The 54th Annual Conference of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, themed “Nigeria’s Trillion Dollar GDP Dream: Harnessing the Wealth of Our Land” entered its fifth day on Friday April 19th, 2024 with a flurry of activities aimed at promoting the growth of the real estate industry in Nigeria.
The day started with a golf tournament, ceremonial Tee-off, and a charity walk that kicked off at the Cathelea event centre, and various sports activities including squash, table tennis, chess, football, and others took place at the Benin Sport complex.
The afternoon session of the event witnessed the grand finale of the Students quiz (NEMSA) and the Board of Fellow’s Dinner. The day’s activities ended with the NEMSA get-together party.
The grand finale of the Students quiz (NEMSA) was a keenly contested competition, with students from different schools displaying their knowledge of the real estate industry. The winners were awarded cash prizes and certificates of participation.
The Board of Fellow’s Dinner was a glamorous event that attracted the crème de la crème of the real estate industry. The event was an opportunity for the board of fellows to network and share ideas on how to move the industry forward.
The NEMSA get-together party was a fun-filled event that provided an opportunity for participants to unwind and socialize after a long day of activities. The event was marked by music, dance, and refreshments.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, the National President of the Institution, Mr. Johnbull Amayaevbo, said that the essence of gathering at the event is not limited to acquisition and sharing of knowledge, but identification of problems bedeviling the nation and offering solutions. He said the theme of the Conference addresses unlocking and harnessing the power and potentials of the real estate for GDP enhancement, wealth creation, and sustainable economic development of the nation.
Amayaevbo suggested that, to address the numerous economic challenges plaguing Nigeria, the Federal Government should invest massively in infrastructure, create jobs, stimulate economic activities that would ensure that people have means of livelihood.
According to him: “When people have means of livelihood, they will be able to pay tax, which is also used to refinance the economy and you have multiplier effects, and individual businesses thrive on the back of that. Until we do this, we might be waiting for a fairly long painful journey out of our economic challenges.”
Thankfully, “This extraordinary Conference was convened at this critical juncture that demands our focused attention on chronic social-economic challenges. Distinguished experts, investors, policymakers, regulatory institutions, and real estate practitioners from across the globe have joined the Conference to examine and give insights to the theme and proffer workable solutions and suggestions that will be passed to appropriate quarters for consideration and implementation”
Continuing, he said: “When we listen to professionals, every sector of our economy would wake up.”
Earlier, the Chairman Edo State branch of NIESV, Aigbekaen Osazuwa, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to all participants for creating time to honor the invitation to attend the conference.
He said that as the biggest gathering of professionals and stakeholders in the real estate sector, the Annual National Conference offers a veritable platform for practitioners to propagate the ideas of real development to propel the development of the industry and the national economy. He said the conference would help redirect the economy on the path of sustainable development.
The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who was represented by the Commissioner for Physical planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Mrs Isoken Omo while declaring the annual national conference open said the State is expected to harness a One trillion dollar GDP dream in professional built environment.
He noted that, as part of investment in the physical environment the State has always engage profassionals as a way to discourage quakery in the sector.
Obaseki said: “Anything that has to do with the environment, we make sure that we use the right people.”
The keynote speaker and Chief Executive Officer of International Valuation Standard Council,United Kingdom, Mr. Nicholas Talbot in his presentation titled: “The Role of Valuation and Stardard in achieving the Trillion Dollar GDP Dream” said, proper management of land resources is a sinequanon to meeting the projection.
