The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) on Friday, marked its valuation day celebration in a three day packed event which began on Wednesday, and had its theme titled ‘Valuation: Key To Decision Making for Asset and Resource Optimisation‘. Valuation Day is a day aimed at raising awareness for the Valuation profession, celebrated by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers nationwide, on 5th of May of every year.
The event which had in attendance government functionaries that include representatives from parastatals, ministries and state governments, also, had the private sector and corporate entities participating.
The Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Abuja Branch – ESV Adebanjo Adeleke, said valuation day was a day dedicated to awareness of valuation with a mission to erase the notion that estate surveyors and valuers are just agents.
“Valuation day is a day dedicated to the awareness of valuation, the Chairman said.
“We want people to know who we are, we are not just agents but Valuers. We are here to create awareness for the peope to know who we are”, he added.
In the words of ESV Bello Abdulazeez, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and a fellow of NIESV, “many people call us Estate Surveyors and Valuers when they are referring to estate agents, rent collectors and we are saying no, it’s far beyond that.
“An Estate Surveyor and Valuer is professionally trained and technically mentored to access the worth of assets of government and private individuals and corporate entities”.
The Hononary Publicity Secretary of the branch, ESV Nwamaka Vivian Ofoma said assets and properties are valued by Estate Surveyors and Valuers, and the society must be kept abreast of this.
Ofoma who is also an Associate of the institution, pointed out that Estate Surveyors and Valuers are the licenced professionals authorized to carry valuation for any purpose which aids in decision making, whether mortgage, or sales or insurance, and even for asset declaration.
Most people are not aware of what valuation is all about, Vivian Ofoma continued..
“We are the licensed professionals to carryout valuation for any purpose, whether it’s for mortgage or financial or sale or insurance. “Many people are not aware of this. They get their valuation from anywhere. And that is why we are sensitizing the public”.
“We sensitize the public about valuation which is basically to determine the worth of your assets at a certain time, for a given purpose and you have to be a certified valuer to do that. We have the Estate Surveying and Valuation Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), which is the regulatory body that licenced us to practice the profession. So, we need to let people know that.
She also said the importance of Estate Surveying and Valuation is paramount to the economy of a nation, “valuation of assets impacts the economy of a nation in beneficially vantage ways”, she said.
We want the citizens of Nigeria to realize the importance of Valuation.
The current Financial Secretary of the Institution, Abuja branch, ESV Hajiya Umoru Salamat said the decision to create this awareness exercise was because, most members of the Nigerian society don’t understand the functions of an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, therefore, the plan to inform the public became paramount.
“(This exercise is) meant to sensitise the public on what we do as estate surveyors and valuers, she stated.
“We found out that most members and the public don’t really understand what we do as estate surveyors and valuers. So, we took it out to ensure that we enlighten members and the public on what we do.
“We moved to parastatals to sensitise them on the essence of valuation day on our activities, like how do we value our activities? Knowing the worth of your properties, you need to consult the services of estate surveyors and valuers.
“Basically, we are sensitising because, most people don’t know the functions of estate surveyors and valuers. We want our job functions will be recognised.
We Want More Involvement From The Government
On positives to expect from the government, the leadership of the institution were in unison, as they urged for more government recognition of the institute’s roles in the society.
The Branch’s Chairman, Adeleke sought for more involvement from the federal and state governments to create more awareness for the public, as to the roles of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.
“We had lots of government officials (since we began last Wednesday) that include Permanent Secretaries, Ministers, Governors and today, we are having this road show. We want more involvement from the government”, he said.
This year’s event was the second edition, as it debuted last year, with top notch activities included in this year’s event. The institution believes that there has been much impact since it had its maiden edition because, since it started, not many members were involved in terms of strategising but now, members are fully engaged and the public who would love to know what’s happening, are fully engaged too.
Valuation is critical to a country’s development but, very few know what Valuers activities.
