AS part of activities marking this year's World Facility Management Day, professional facility managers and experts in related disciplines will gather in Nigeria for a roundtable discussion aimed at positively shaping the future of the practice in the country.Central to the many activities lined up for the celebration of the June 28 FM Day is the need to sensitise the public on what facility management is all about, the different people and institutions that can benefit from it and appraise the impact that the profession has made in the country.The International Facility Management Association, Nigeria Chapter, will use it to draw attention to the appalling state of public and private infrastructure in the country and what can be done to institute a proper maintenance culture.IFMA President, Nigeria, Mr. Tony Ezeaku, said that though facility management had gained prominence in the country with over 700 individual and 100 corporate members registered with the association; there was still a lot of ground to be covered in promoting its ideals.Facility managers, he said, had the task of helping organisations to plan, manage and maintain the totality of their facilities and associated services so that they could focus on their core areas of competence.According to him, if allowed to play their roles, facility managers would also help organisations and institutions to reduce associated overall costs by strict control and delivery of value for money budgeted for maintenance.He said that it was important for corporate organisations to put in place an effective facilities management plan and ensure that their facilities were managed by professional facility managers in order to ensure quality and sustainability of such facilities.Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Limited (AM Facilities) and WSP FMC, a facilities management company, will independently be marking the day. While Alpha Mead will he holding an event at Radisson Blu, Victoria IsIand on the 28 at an event tagged: The Facility Management Roundtable, WSP FMC will hold a presentation of State of the Art mobile workshop- a comprehensive collection of mechanical, electrical, HVAC and other necessary tools for maintenance.Managing Director of AM Facilities, Mr. Femi Akintunde, said: 'The increasing interest in the real estate and facility management industry globally is driving a corresponding demand for professionalism and best practice standards, particularly in view of the huge influence of the sector on economic prosperity.He also disclosed that the panel of discussants would comprise leading authorities from both within Nigeria and internationally representing the various stakeholder groups in the Real Estate & Facility Management (REFM) Industry, facility managers, developers, construction companies and private resident associations.Discussants include Tony Ezeaku, president, IFMA International, Nigeria Chapter, Kenny McCrae, Partner, Cluttons LLP, UK and Hakeem Ogunniran, managing director, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC).Others are Malije Okoye, Infrastructure Services manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Adeniyi Adeleye, head, Property Finance and Investments (West Africa), Stanbic IBTC, Wale Olaoye, CEO, Halogen Security Company Limited, Charles Yele Akindayomi managing director, CA Consultants, Mr. Kayode Pitan, former banker and now a real estate investor and Mr. George Etomi, a seasoned legal practitioner and former chairman of the Osborne Residents Association (OSPORA).Participants at the roundtable will be drawn from decision makers and facility managers in energy companies, oil & gas, banking, telecommunications, real estate development and multinationals.The organisers said that the discussion was expected to bring a refreshing change to the maintenance culture and standards in the Nigerian real estate industry.
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