L-R: General Secretary, Lagos Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr Foluso Ogunrinde; Deputy Chairman, Mr Olarenwaju Farotimi; the chapter Chairman, Mr Ayodele Alao and a member, Mr Rilwan Balogun during a press briefing to announce the 2022 Quantity Surveyors Week of the association on Tuesday in Lagos.
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) Lagos State Chapter has pledged to promote environment-friendly investments to ensure sustainability.
NIQS Lagos Chapter Chairman, Mr Ayodele Alao, made the pledge at a press parley held on Tuesday to herald the 2022 Quantity Surveyors (QS) Week in Surulere, Lagos.
Alao said firms target growth in spite of various challenges but they must strike a balance and adopt favourable options that protect the environment for the sake of future generations.
He said the 2022 annual QS week, with the theme “Striving for sustainability in the face of economic challenges and a fast-changing world; the QS Perspective” would ensure Quantity Surveyors adaptation.
“A business or a profession is compelled to constantly re-invent itself to strive towards enhancing its ability to be maintained at a certain pedestal and ensure to earn adequately to stay viable financially and be up to its responsibilities of contributing to economic growth, social progress as well as not deplete or negatively impact the environment so that the ability of future generations to meet their needs is not compromised,” he said.
He said sustainability prolongs the lifespan of businesses hence the need for firms to adopt environment-friendly options.
He said that promoting sustainability is a long term measure.
“It is no longer acceptable to just stay in existence and not contribute to the collective socio-economic well-being and maintaining or restoring the environment where the need be,” he said.
The Chairman said as part of activities for the 2022 QS Week, the chapter would hold a webinar on Wednesday, where Quantity Surveying and Cost Management experts would speak.
Alao said they would share knowledge on how Quantity Surveyors could achieve sustainability in their professional journey for business longevity.
He said immediately after the Press briefing, the association would visit to charity homes to donate money and gift items.
He added that the QS week would end with a dinner/investiture of Mr Olanrewaju Farotimi, as the 16th Chairman of the Lagos Chapter as well as inauguration of the new members.
The Chairman urged the public to always ensure that they engaged professional Quantity Surveyors in execution of projects to curb leakages and wastes.
The Deputy Chairman, MrOlanrewaju Farotimi , said adhering to ethical standards was important.
He said that the profession was built around intergrity because NIQS usually handles issues of cost.
Farotimi stressed the need for manpower development to cope with changing times, harnessing technology,
He said that, NIQS was encouraging firms to employ younger professionals to drive innovations.
He urged regulatory bodies to be active in their roles to keep their members in check and called for collaboration of all built environment experts to curb quackery.