The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) on Thursday inducted 310 new members into the associate cadre of the institution to practice as certified estate surveyors and valuers.
Mr Rowland Abonta, President of NIESV, said at the 2019 induction ceremony in Lagos that the exercise was in compliance with the mandates and Acts of the Institution.
The theme of the programme was: ‘International Best Practices for Professionals’.
Abonta said it was also a mechanism to grow the estate surveying profession in the country.
According to him, the induction signifies commitment on the part of the inductees to become ambassadors of the profession at all times.
He, therefore, urged the inductees to uphold the principles, ethics and integrity of the profession in their service to the society.
Abonta said the inductees should contribute their quota to the move toward ensuring effective management and development of infrastructure and facilities in the country.
The NIESV president said that infrastructure/estate surveying and valuation practice in Nigeria needed to be improved upon.
He assured commitment of the institution to providing the necessary support to ensure smooth operation of the newly inducted members.
“The induction programme provides the opportunity to formally certify estate surveying professionals who have met the requirements to practice as estate surveyors and valuers.
“As a certified estate professional, avail yourself with opportunities of seminars and workshops to constantly be updated with new developments and methodologies in the profession,” he said.
An estate surveyor, Mr Ebubechukwu Etudo, said that estate surveying practitioners should maintain professionalism in the course of discharging their mandates.
Etudo, also the Guest Speaker at the ceremony, said that an estate professional must display punctuality, honesty, humility and commitment when dealing with clients.
According to him, estate surveyors and valuers are bound to render services in accordance with law, regulations and code of conduct of the profession.
“I enjoin you to go out there and up the scale of estate surveying and valuation practice in Nigeria and globally.
“In your interaction with your clients it is advisable that you try as much as possible to keep the relationship official. Most of your clients are not on the same social circuit with you.
“An estate surveyor and valuer should operate his clients account distinct from his partnership account. All rents received on behalf of your client should be promptly remitted to the client account after agreed outgoings have been deducted.
“A professional must ensure that his work is carried out with competence, deligence and speed. Reports must be presented and proof read by a partner of a firm or any senior and competent person so delegated.
“In order to protect oneself from civil liability arising from tort and contract, adequate professional indemnity cover must be taken out and maintained at all times,” Etudo said.
Also speaking, the 6th President of the Institution, Mr Daudu Shote, urged the inductees to establish good collaborative relationship with others, particularly the older ones in the profession.
Shote said that a professional must always accept jobs within the scope of his/her knowledge, saying that the inductees should refer such jobs to those competent to handle them. (NAN)
