Stakeholders at the 2014 Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable have harped on further collaborations between government and private sector in the provision and maintenance of infrastructure and Real Estate asset in Nigeria.

The Facilities Management Roundtable is an annual event organised by leading Facilities Management Company, Alpha Mead Facilities Management and Services Limited, in commemoration of the World Facilities Management Day, celebrated across the globe.

The annual event, which is in its third year, brings together stakeholders within Nigeria’s build environment to raise awareness about the facilities management profession and its benefits to the development of the nation’s economy.

Delivering the Keynote address on the theme: “Toward Optimal Performance of Infrastructure and Real Estate Assets in Nigeria”, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, (SSG) Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on NEPAD, Mr. Ademola Amure, said it would be futile to leave the provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure to Government alone.

The Lagos SSG further highlighted the need for government-private sector collaborations, saying; “Our experience as a nation has shown that a mutually beneficial handshake between Government and the private sector is important to achieve the desired momentum in economic growth stimulated by adequate and functional critical infrastructure and housing”.

She explained that government considers infrastructure such as power, water, agriculture, telecommunications, road and transportation as critical, hence, “it is unthinkable that in the 21st century, any country will contemplate a thriving economy without providing and maintaining critical infrastructure and Real Estate”.

Citing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Lagos Home Ownership Scheme (Lagos HOMS) as copious example, the SSG noted that in the face of a growing population, Lagos is engaging private sectors in the areas of Real Estate and Infrastructure.

In his welcome address, Engr. Femi Akintunde, Managing Director, Alpha Mead Facilities Management and Services Limited also encouraged government at all levels to continue to embrace the Public Private Partnership, PPP, initiative. He explained that this is becoming imperative against the backdrop of the Nigeria’s recent rebasing, the privatization of critical sectors and the floating of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation, NMCR.

“Giving the recent rebasing of the Nigerian economy as the largest in Africa, it is imperative that we have in place a robust structure and strategy to guarantee adequate provision and efficient management of the public infrastructure required to support such a large economy”, he said.

In his presentation on “The Evolution of Green Buildings in Nigeria”, Mr. Shina Oliyide, a certified Green Building expert and General Manager, Technical of Alpha Mead, noted that in spite of increased adoption of greener business practices across the world, there is still information gap about the concept in Nigeria. Other discussions at the roundtable include FM Benchmarking and the risk and opportunities in FM outsourcing in Nigeria.

The event had in attendance Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Mr. Adebayo Faari, Patricia Kenneth-Divine, Trade Development Manager, UK Trade & Investment, British Deputy High Commission, Tolu Osinibi, Executive Director, FCMB Capital Markets, among others.

AMFacilities is a notable ISO certified facility management company, who has in the past 3 years, commemorated The World Facility Management Day. The commemoration highlights an industry-focused FM and asset management round table, which brings together industry stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria to chart the course of FM in Africa.

AMFacilities manages high profile clients such Shell, Total, UACN, Nokia Siemens, Ericsson and Primrose Properties Limited. Major projects handled include total facilities management for The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Twinlakes Estate, Ado Bayero Mall Kano, 1004 Estates Shell offices and residential quarters in Portharcourt, Warri and Lagos, Ultimate Apartments, Total, First E&P, and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) among others.

 

2014-06-09