IFMA Nigeria Inaugurates New Council Members

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria chapter has formally inaugurated her newly elected Executive Council members at a recent ceremony in Lagos. At the event, facility managers were charged to rise to a new level of reasoning and foster increased development in the discharge of their duties as they tap into the enormous economic opportunities available in Nigeria.

The event which was tagged Celebrating FM, also had a lecture titled “Utilizing FM to Unlock the Economic Opportunities in the Built Environment”. The lecture was delivered by The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi.

(L-R) Executive Secretary, International Facility Management Association Nigeria, Dele Chinedu, President, Pius Iwundu, Vice President,  Abimbola Olusegun- Adamolekun and the Immediate Past President, Olatunji Okesola at the Celebrating FM Award Dinner and Inauguration of Elected 2016/2018 Council Members in Lagos on Friday.

In his opening remarks, the immediate Past President of the Association, Mr. Olatunji Okesola, highlighted some of the achievements of his administration. He disclosed that the milestone he achieved came despite the current economic recession in Nigeria. He revealed his personal conviction that the more challenges grow in our environment, the greater the economic opportunities therein for all. “What FM does is to proffer real life solutions to every challenge that might hinder our best living” he stressed.


Okesola also added that, Nigeria has the potentials of becoming one of the greatest countries of the World if she properly harnesses and judiciously explores her enormous natural and human resources for the good of her citizens. “Nigerians have no business being jobless and or poor. You will agree with me that our profession - Facility Management is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation agenda towards the greatness of our economy and by extension, the greatness of our dear Nation” he explained.

Focusing more on facility management Okesola told the practitioners that “no matter your primary calling or career, you can become an efficient and successful facility management professional by learning the principles and applying the principles as you discharge your primary responsibilities everywhere you find yourself. For our country to be great, we must all imbibe the culture of facility management by thinking FM, living FM and celebrating FM”.

Professor Nubi, in his paper stated that, for 19years since FM berthed in Nigeria, it has focused more on developing workplace ideas. He postulated that for FM professionals to tap fully into available opportunities there must be integration of people, places and the built environment. “We must celebrate universities, estates and others who have put up structures that meet global standard” he stressed.
He charged the association to work towards getting legislative empowerment, this will help them organize and moderate the profession in Nigeria.

The new president, Engr. Pius Iwundu in his acceptance speech, said that, the new Council will continue to be consultative in discharging its duties as suggestion and opinion of members will be considered.

Engr. Iwundu added that, as facility managers, the integration of people, place, process and technology will be the major focus of his administration to ensure the functionality of the built environment.

IFMA was established in Nigeria in 1995 by a group of well-meaning professionals who subscribed to the cliché of courageous leadership to achieve premium quality performance in diverse areas. The aim of these multi-disciplined professionals from international institutions like Mobil and Chevron was to establish international standard of facility management and quality maintenance of structures in Nigeria.