By Jude Njoku

“Corruption is everywhere and as professionals we have a duty to curb it through the use of technology as part of our transformation agenda. Our attitude must also change positively to enable us embrace technology and shun corruption”.

These pieces of advice were given by the Chairman, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON, Mr. Ayodele Sangosanya at the 19th John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, in Lagos.

The late John Wood Ekpenyong was the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered estate surveyor and valuer; he was also the pioneer President of the NIESV.

Delivering the lecture which centred on honesty and devotion in Nigeria’s transformation agenda, Sangosanya who was the 9th President of the NIESV, regretted that “the love of money has taken over the hearts of many, therefore, raising a godly generation has been a near difficult task”.

He called on estate surveyors to guard their loins and get committed to the task of raising honest professionals.

Noting that the present administration’s transformation agenda is aimed at revitalising all sectors of the Nigerian economy to enhance growth and development, Mr. Sangosanya posited that its full impact would not be felt if estate surveyors do not key into it. “We, as noble persons, must have zero tolerance for corruption and underhand dealings,” he declared.

He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for settling for transformation as the management process to activate changes in the pace, quantum and quality of Nigeria’s development. “We must support him not only with constructive advice and criticism but also by putting in place, programmes and events to catalyse the transformation process. We should make credibility the hallmark of our profession. It is credibility that speaks for us,” he said.

The ESVARBON chairman listed current lapses which lack of honesty and devotion has created within the body of estate surveyors and the larger society. They include:

*Alarming low ethical values within the rank and file of the practitioners and the poor image which is being attracted within the profession.

*Poor standard of practice and best practices in the profession.  Poor quality control in all aspects of estate management and valuation practice in Nigeria.

*Defilement of Industrial attachees during their training programmes as they interact with estate surveyors and valuers in the field, as they are exposed to the realities on the ground from practical exposure, as distinct from the picture of utopian ethical professional practice imparted to the students in their respective schools. The exposure to negative values has had the tendency of polluting the students, whose orientation changes drastically on their return to their schools and thus, breeds distrust between the students and their lecturers.

Continuing, he declared: “The level of moral decadence and depravity in the larger Nigerian society has rubbed off negatively on the ethical values of practitioners, who cannot be insulated from the general society malaise, corruption, low mental capacity, strong acquisitive instinct, get-rich- quick mentality, lack of commitment/dedication to professional duties and responsibilities as well as absence of loyalty to employers, as employees use their principal’s office as contact points for their personal/selfish goals, while milking the firms to the bones.