Facility managers have called on the Federal and state governments to empower professionals legally, politically and through regulatory measures.
The Group Managing Director of Alpha Mead Group, Mr. Femi Akintunde, made the call in his lecture at the third edition of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Nigeria Chapter Advocacy Day Conference themed: “The Economy of Facility Management: Harnessing the Value and Impact in Nigeria”, in Lagos.
He said there are infrastructural developments by the government without the enabling environment for facility managers. According to him, this would amount to colossal waste, if they were not well managed.
He said: “Property appreciation depends on the quality of maintenance and there would be a significant economic leap if there is an enabling environment that will make businesses thrive, leading to increased profitability and productivity.”
The Alpha Mead boss encouraged other professionals to continually develop capacity in the areas of renewable energy, as it is cheap and clean for humans.
He said this would also reduce challenges associated with climate change and warned that corporate space management keeps shrinking as offices are being incorporated into residential spaces.
Earlier, IFMA Nigeria chapter, Mr. Segun Adebayo, said there is a need to consider the economy of facility management because it will lead to the transformation of the economy.
“With the Presidential assent to Executive Order 11, the facility management economy will grow significantly if effectively implemented as it will generate more business opportunities for industry players and jobs for relevant stakeholders,” he added.
The Group Managing Director of Fenchurch Group, Mr. Olufemi Bakare, said: “The renewable solutions must be embraced to significant drop incurred by organisations on running generators. Organisations are running on gas, solar and wind energies now and these sources of energy need to be more optimised.”
The Vice President of the association, Mr. Olalekan Adewunmi, noted that the association has enhanced the skills of students of the technical colleges across Lagos State, which has contributed to the development of the industry.