Experts seek strategic innovations to boost facility management

Industry experts have advised practitioners to make decisions based on the property life cycle, create an environment, which fosters, embraces innovation and change.

They argue that such projections and decisions will improve the quality of life of people and productivity of the core businesses in the built environment.

The experts spoke at the second edition of the Facilities Management Lecture Series, organized by the Department of Estate Management, University of Lagos, on the theme: Value Aspirations in Facilities Management through Strategic applications, sponsored by Messrs Green Facilities Limited.

The lead speaker and Managing Partner, Shelter Care Consult, Collins Osayemwen said that organisations must think strategically if they are to do more than simply survive in today’s increasingly competitive marketplaces.

According to him, facility managers must position themselves for changing industry trends in the years ahead as the profession of facility management continues to mature and evolve in many facets.

Osayemwen explained that for professionals to make impact, they are expected to understand their company’s core business and contribute to the bottom line—not only by reducing facility costs but also by improving the productivity, revenue generating capacity and image of the entire organization.

He also noted that practitioners also have greater opportunity to add value to their organizations through efficient management, improved technology, and strategic planning.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe said facility management has become an integral part of their strategic plan. “We recognize its necessity in achieving our core business of teaching, research and community engagement.

We realize its indispensability in improving the quality of our structures and services while ensuring customer satisfaction, academic productivity and in cutting costs.”

Represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Prof. Wale Okunuga, noted that the university has built a legacy of excellence and has produced top range graduates who are having tremendous impact on the development of Nigeria in many fields of endavour, including facilities management.

He further disclosed that the university has launched two new centres of excellence – Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development and the Centre of Excellence for Urbanisation and Habitat Cities.

“This not only increases the number of research centres in the university but also boosts global relevance. It is one our corporate goals to continue to explore all avenues to enhance our capacity for leading cutting-edge research and innovation in all areas including facilities management, to increase the efficiency, buoyancy and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy,” Ogundipe added.

The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Mike Adebamowo said the Department of Estate Management has brought facility management field to international standard and urged designers and builders to include maintenance costs during the construction of new facilities and buildings.

Head of Department of Estate Management, Prof Modupe Omirin said the annual lecture series is designed to create opportunities for interaction between town and gown to synergistically deliver greater value in capacity building in the profession.

She said: “We are strategizing to put the programme on surer footing more than ever before to enable the graduates achieve International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Nigeria group recognition and possible exemption from all aspects if not all the certification.

“The programme curriculum was designed with the competent areas required by the international body. As a pioneer professional Masters Programme in Facilities Management in Nigeria, we have continued to be oversubscribed in terms of annual applications.”

Credit: Guardian