The Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors(NIS), Oyo State branch, Surv. Waheed Lamidi, has described the activities of the land grabbers as worrisome and anti development in Oyo state.
Lamidi stated this at the year 2022 annual luncheon and awards programme organised by NIS, Oyo state branch on Thursday in Ibadan.
The 2022 luncheon and awards programme had the theme: “Practical Investments:The Professional Perspective”.
He said that the rapidly growing activities of land grabbers in the state calls for the immediate attention of the state government. He added that the menace had made practicing of surveying profession more challenging.
“Proper measures must be taken to eradicate the obnoxious action of the land grabbers. Their activities can discourage foreign investors which will in turns affect the development of the state, ” he said.
He urged the state government to give indigenous professionals more chance in the execution of various ongoing developmental projects in the state to professionally contribute their quotas in the development of Oyo state.
Also speaking, the guest lecturer, Dr Muyiwa Bamigbose, called on the members of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors to key into the advanced innovations in the surveying profession.
Bamigbose added that many investment and business opportunities needed to be spotted out alongside practicing of the surveying profession which may not put food on the table at all times.
He noted that the ability to identify the gap in the profession and market at large with the aim of providing solutions and to add values would lead to both professional and individual prosperity.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Abioye Adesina, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners(FNITP), in his opening speech said that the theme for the event was apt as it speaks about available opportunities in Nigeria.
Adesina noted that Nigeria as most populated country in Africa has the potential to be a preferred destination for real estate and land surveying investment for would be investors and professionals.
He called on the stakeholders in the surveying profession to quickly address the low turn-out of the graduate surveyors from higher institutions of learning across the country.
Adesina suggested that the career guidance and counseling talk should be organised for students at secondary school level to boost their interest and change the misconception of students concerning the studying of Surveying and Geoinformatics.
The programme featured presentation of the awards, recognitions, cultural display, questions and answers among others.
