By Jude Njoku

THE Estate Surveyors  and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON and the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, have begun fresh moves to increase the number of registered estate surveyors and valuers in the country, currently put at 2,888.

ESVARBON Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Gbadebo Sangosanya who disclosed this in Lagos at the induction of 97 newly registered estate surveyors and valuers, explained that 2,888 surveyors is very inadequate when compared with a national population of over 160 million.

Although Sangosanya did not disclose the modalities for effecting the increase, he assured that standards would not be lowered by the exercise.

The ESVARBON chairman who told the inductees that the stamps, seals and certificates awarded to them are properties of the Board, warned that it (Board) would not hesitate to “withdraw these items at any time, if abused”.

“The rules and regulations of the Board should guide any estate surveyor and valuer and their violation will not be tolerated. Therefore, the ethics and ethos of the profession should be carefully guarded by all and sundry,” he said, adding that integrity is the hallmark of  professional success.

Delivering the charge to the inductees, a former chairman of the Board, Mr. Tunde Adegbemile told them to make a difference in the profession, noting that estate surveying is much more than estate agency, a field that is invaded by all comers and quacks.

But Adegbemile’s charge that the young estate surveyors should not practise as limited liability companies or use pseudo names varied with the submission of NIESV President, Mr. Emeka Eleh.

Eleh told the inductees to jettison the idea of establishing one-man firms because they have become outdated. He enjoined them to come together and form mega firms which is the thing in vogue all over the world.

The NIESV President said the constitution of NIESV has been amended to pave way for people to operate as limited liability companies and under pseudo names. He cited the case of Knight Frank which has existed for years and is still waxing strong as an example of a mega-practice firm.

Mr. Eleh enjoined the inductees to identify with the ten faculties established by the institution. According to him, such membership will help them to acquire the relevant knowledge in the various aspects of the profession as well as boost their professional competencies.

He used the occasion to renew the call for a reform of the country land tenure system.