Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS), on Thursday, in Owerri, the Imo State Capital honoured five of its members by inducting them into the highest esteemed status of the Association, known as Board of Fellows’.
The inductees who pledged an oath of allegiance to the course include: Surv. Dr Njar Gertude, NIS Cross River State; Surv. Olayinka Dukpe, NIS Lagos State; Surv. Olukotun S.O, NIS Federal Capital Territory Abuja (FCT); Surv. Babatude S.A, NIS River State; and Surv. Ogunlami O.B, NIS Ogun State.
In his key note address, the chairman of the board, Surv. Dr. Bosun Ayinde recognized the presence of dignitaries who graced the occasion while giving a brief history of the organization.
Ayinde stated that the first set of fellows were inducted in 1966 and has so far drawn 367 fellows from its membership across the nation.
He stated that the 5 inductees who out of the hundred members that applied for the promotion, qualified to be elevated to the position because of the significant contributions they have made to the practice of surveying and the achievement of a standard of excellence worthy of emulation in the profession.
He congratulated the inductees and urged them to remember how sacrosanct the honour bestowed on them is, and to remember that it is expected of them to be of high moral standard, upholding their integrity, pledging their unalloyed support to the institution, and above all, living worthy of the honour in word and indeed.
The president of the NIS, Surv. Alabo Charlesye in his remarks also congratulated them and endeared them to remember that to whom much is given much is also expected.
Alabo reminded NIS members that survey is an integral part of the institution and so all members should be diligent in ensuring the success of the profession, by being honest and committed to the institution.
Speaking on the issue of building collapses in diverse parts of the states, he stated that there should be realistic policies concerning infrastructural monitoring in the country, so land owner will be forced to engage the services of the surveyors who are there not just to survey land and mark boundaries, but to also ascertain the texture of the soil before the engineers can be deployed to commence the rest of the work.
The guest speaker, Professor of Law and deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Edith Nwosu who gave a lecture titled; “Promoting Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria Through Social Protective Floor Initiative” stated that sustainable development should be a development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generations, adding that Social Protective Floor Scheme which is a policy set up by the government to take care of the interest of the vulnerable and the downtrodden in the society should be adopted so the security and the welfare of the masses can be secured.
She therefore recommended among others that there should be a political will to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, institutionalization of punishment for officials who will embezzle funds meant for public use, and for private sectors to support the government by participating in ensuring that sustainable development is achieved through recruiting adequate staff in their establishment and paying them good remuneration.
The inductees expressed profound joy over the honour and responsibility bestowed on them and assured of their total commitment in carrying out their assignments judiciously.
They further urged land owners to know that the job of the engineer is quite different from theirs and so should do the needful by engaging the services of surveyors, when planning to erect a building.
Nigeria Horn
