FIABCI-Nigeria Celebrates Its 50th Year (Golden Jubilee) Anniversary

Nov 17, 2023 Latest News

FIABCI-Nigeria's 50th Year Anniversary was celebrated in Lagos, Nigeria between November 5 and 9, 2023. The five-day event was richly packaged with not only educative and social programs but also courtesy visits, a golf competition, and professional tours. The climax was the main event and dinner, and award night to the chapter's founding fathers and veterans on November 8.

The prominence of the event was boosted by the physical attendance of FIABCI World President-elect, Ramon Riera Torroba who arrived on Sunday, November 5. The following day, November 6, Mr. Torroba joined FIABCI-Nigeria members to attend a property technology event – the NIPROTECH 2023 Conference at Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island. Later in the same day, officials of FIABCI-Nigeria accompanied the World President-elect to his first courtesy visit which was to the President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Johnbull Amayevbo, at the secretariat of the Lagos State Branch of the institution. NIESV is a Principal Member of FIABCI-Nigeria.

Glamour was added to the anniversary with a golf competition on November 7, at the prestigious Ikoyi Golf Course. There was much fanfare and high-level networking amongst participants as the event attracted the crème de la crème of not only Nigeria’s real estate industry but much of the Lagos business community. Within the period of the golf competition Mr. Torroba, in the company of FIABCI-Nigeria officials, attended the Lagos Trade Fair which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Delegates then paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Lagos Chamber Of Commerce and Industries. A FIABCI-Nigeria member, Gbenga Ismail is the Vice President of the Chamber and led the delegation to the Trade Fair. Mr. Torroba had the opportunity of interacting with Nigerians of different calibre including primary school pupils who also attended the Trade Fair.

The main event on November 8, included a morning session and a dinner/award night. Both sessions were filled with much pomp and pageantry and attendance was beyond expectations because of the wide publicity given to the anniversary. The morning session was addressed virtually by the incumbent FIABCI World President, Budiarsa Sastrawinata, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by the State Commissioner for Housing, FIABCI World President-elect, Ramon Riera, Adeniji Adele, President of FIABCI Africa and Near East Region and Gladstone Opara, the Chief Host and President of FIABCI-Nigeria.

The main speaker at the event was Dr. Biodun Adedipe, a renowned economist who treated the theme of the anniversary – "Repositioning the Real Estate Industry for the Future: Ethics, Affordability and Sustainability." Another topic on branding – "Strategic Positioning for Real Estate Professionals," was delivered by a very young and vibrant brand expert, Ezekiel Solesi. Eleven new members were inducted into FIABCI-Nigeria and certificates of membership were issued to them.

The chapter also had in attendance presidents of professional bodies such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE, Nigerian Society of Town Planners NSTP, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors NIQS, and African Real Estate Society AFRES. Other dignitaries from many government parastatals and blue-chip private companies that provide real estate services were also in attendance and prominent among them were the Managing Directors of WEMABOD and UPDC Plc (both of who participated as panelists in the morning session). The Chairman of the occasion was Dr. Tunde Lemo, Chairman of Titan Bank Limited and former Deputy Managing Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The dinner and award night session was very thrilling and evoked much nostalgia with the arrival of some of the chapter's old veterans and founding fathers who are still alive. It was much of a social interaction night with music, cultural dances, wining and dining and awards to past members who had served FIABCI-Nigeria in different capacities. Winners of the different categories of the golf competition also received their trophies. The fun continued with the chieftaincy title of “Ojemba FIABCI-Nigeria” given to Mr. Torroba and his official ceremonial dressing with Nigeria’s traditional attires to commemorate the chieftaincy award. The ceremony ended with music and dancing by the participants.

The last day of the event on Thursday, November 9, was filled up with professional tours. Delegates started by visiting the Knight Frank Academy, an initiative of Knight Frank Nigeria where new graduates in real estate are provided with practical education of the profession with further opportunities of handy employment by companies who are in partnership with Knight Frank Academy. FIABCI-Nigeria is part of this partnership and some of its members are part of the lecturing team. The delegation was received by the partners and managers of Knight Frank led by the Senior Partner, Frank Okosun who is also a strong member of FIABCI-Nigeria. Mr. Torroba addressed the students and admonished them on the need to be responsible and very ethical in their professional pursuits.

Thereafter, students of Knight Frank Academy and FIABCI-Nigeria members along with Ramon Torroba proceeded on a professional tour of one of the most glamorous and well-respected real estate developments in Africa – the Eko Atlantic City. The City is still under development and delegates had the opportunity of sighting the new United States Embassy sitting on 49,000 square metres of land within the city. The Managing Director of Eko Atlantic City, Mr Pierre Edde, led the tour. Knight Frank sponsored the lunch for all participants at the popular Pearl Restaurant in Atlantic City.

FIABCI-Nigeria's 50th Year Anniversary was sponsored by 43 companies, prominent among them being FCMB Bank Plc, Leadway Assurance Plc, Berger Paints Plc, Knight Frank Nigeria, and Jacamiah Business Ventures.