By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Need for surveyors to embrace modern technology and the security of practitioners while on the field were are the front burner at the 2025 Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, Board of Fellows Investiture Ceremony held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, recently.
At the event, 39 surveyors were confirmed as Fellows of the institute.
Delivering his address, the NIS President, Matthew Ibitoye, said, “Surveying, as we all know, is one of the rare professions whose relevance transcends sectors and is central to every meaningful developmental effort. From infrastructure to urban planning, from environmental moritoring to disaster risk management, and from sustainable healthcare delivery to commercial enterprise, the footprints of the surveyor are indelibly imprinted.
“In today’s world, where technological advancement shapes how service is delivered, I charge all professional surveyors to continue to equip themselves with emerging tools and innovations in the field.
“Embrace modern technology and geospatial intelligence, invest in capacity building and strategically position yourselves in institutions where policies are made. We must be proactive contributors, not passive observers, in shaping the future of our profession.”
The NIS president also expressed concern about the failure of governmentboth at the federal and the local levels to provide adequate security for surveyors doing site work.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that some surveyors working on a site at Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State were recently kidnapped, but later released.
That incident prompted calls by some government officials for NIS members to protect themselves with security agencies whenever they are going to sites for work.
But Ibitoye condemned such calls, as according to him, clients are not given security charges, adding that the services they render are outside of security which could be threatened anywhere, including homes.
“If we are to bill security into the charges, definitely, the cost of surveying will be higher. However, it is a clear signal that government is not living up to expectations. You cannot expect an individual to start hiring policemen before going to work.
He, however, advised that since government has failed in providing adequate security, surveyors should put in adequate measures to ensure their safety before going to site.
He also urged his members to avoid going to sites alone and to always carry out due diligence before going out.
“Before you even go out, try to do some underground work and see how safe the place is. Don’t go alone. Carry the families that gave you work along because they know the people living around them.
“In most cases, study the place very well. If they are expecting you in the afternoon, you go very early in the morning. If they are expecting you in the morning, then you go later at night when people are yet to come up. You can also make use of technology to carry out some jobs without necessarily visiting the site,” Ibitoye advised.
Congratulating the Fellows-elect and their families on the feat achieved, the NIS helmsman said, “I offer a word of counsel: irrespective of your age, today marks your transition into the rank of elders within the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors. You are now remote officers of the Institution, ambassadors of its values, torchbearers of its legacy and mentors to the younger generation. You are expected to inspire, guide and uphold the dignity of this esteemed status with grace and responsibility.
In his own remarks, the Chairman, NIS Board of Fellows, Olusola Atilola, while welcoming the 39 newly admitted Fellows, admonished them to be of good conduct, enforce the constitution and code of ethics of the profession.
According to him, being a Fellow of the profession poses an enormous duty to serve the institution and the society at large.
He charged, “Fellows are the conscience of the profession and custodians of its values and traditions. As leaders, you must provide purposeful leadership and enforce the constitution and code of ethics of the profession. You must be an epitome of integrity, honour, transparency, fair play and accountability in all your dealings.”
The Fellows Investiture Ceremony of the NIS is an annual event where it honours its members who have distinguished themselves with the highest membership cadre.
According to Atilola, “This year, 39 members (Fellows-elect) have been found worthy of admission into the prestigious Fellowship Cadre of our Institution. They have gone through rigorous selection procedure and have been adjudged worthy in character, knowledge and contribution to the development of the surveying profession.”
