Jonathan To Open 43rd Estate Surveyors Conference

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare open on Thursday the 43rd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. The Estate Surveyors Conference will hold in Benin City, Edo State.

The conference, which will discuss topical national and international issues, and also serve as a social gathering for members of the institution, will last for three days beginning from Wednesday. The Honorary National Publicity Secretary, NIESV, Mr. Victor Ayeye, said in a statement made available on Friday that the conference would deliberate on ways of actualising the nation’s infrastructural development and economic empowerment.

He said over 3,000 members of the institution were expected to attend the conference, which will also attract the Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, as special guests. The former Vice President (Africa), World Bank, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, is expected to deliver the keynote lecture, while five other speakers have been lined up for the conference. Ayeye said, “We have a former Minister for Education and member of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Economic Management Team, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, as the lead speaker, and the other speakers include Mr. Ghali Bello, the Acting Director-General of ICRC; Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Managing Director of Infrastructure Bank Plc; Dr. Christian Oboh, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission; Dr. Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School; and Dr. Joshua Patunola-Ajayi, the Second Vice-President of NIESV.”

He quoted the President of NIESV, Mr. Emeka Eleh, as saying that the organisation of the 43rd conference was unique as the institution had been able to attract speakers from various professional callings as well as corporate partners. Eleh was quoted as saying, “This year’s conference is crucial to our members who are anxious to contribute to the national conversation on infrastructural development and economic empowerment of Nigerians, which is why we have recorded a huge turnout of members that registered for the conference.

“We have equally looked beyond our members to throw the conference open to other professionals so as to have diverse perspectives to the conversation.” Ayeye said the conference was being supported by Airtel Nigeria, Trojan Estates, UACN Property Development Company Plc and Skye Bank Plc. “We are expecting over 3,000 members of the institution who have registered to attend the conference from across the country. “Other activities during the conference include a gala dinner, exhibition by companies in the housing and property sector, cultural night, novelty football match and a variety night,” Ayeye added.

Source: THE PUNCH