Lack of Accountability Fuels Spate of Building Collapse – Dima-Okojie
Guest Speaker, Mrs Dima-Okojie, with Faculty, Staf and Students of Estate Management in a group photograph
Lack of accountability in construction projects has been identified as a major factor for the spate of building collapse in the country. Consequently, professional Estate Surveyors and Valuers have been charged to always be an independent part of construction works in order to put things right professionally.
Deputy Managing Director, Kola Akomolede and Co. (a Firm of Estate Surveyor and Valuers), Mrs. Tolulope Adetokunbo Dima-Okojie, gave the charge on Thursday, September 15, 2016, while addressing the undergraduate students of Estate Management at Covenant University in a Town and Gown interactive session organised by the Department.
Mrs. Dima-Okojie, who spoke on “Theory Practice Dichotomy in Estate Management: The Way Forward for the New Generation Surveyors,” decried the situation where one man, according to her, would be the architect, surveyor, builder and the contractor. “He won’t be accountable to anybody and may use substandard materials,” she noted.
The Guest Speaker, who was a pioneer and First-class graduate of Estate Management in Covenant University, also charged the students to brace up for future challenges outside the scope of the classroom theories. She enjoined them to be up to date about their profession and build their brand because the perceptions of clients about them also play a big role in the practice.
“The dynamic nature of Real Estate practice certainly makes real estate theory appear to be ‘lagging behind’ but in truth, this is the norm generally and not the exception in most professions. Real Estate theory is important as it serves as a landing board, giving guidelines on how to resolve several situations,” she said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Head of Department, Estate Management, Dr. Chukwuemeka Iroham, noted that there was the need for connection between the classroom theory and what obtains in the world of practice in order to prepare the students. The highly elated HOD noted that he was happy to see one of the products of the Department doing well in the profession, and giving back to the University.
