The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Musa Ahmed Dangiwa, Tuesday, inaugurated a 15-member board of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) and urged the board members to use their experiences to ensure a reduction in the high cost of construction projects and procurement in the country.
Performing the inauguration in Abuja, Dangiwa who was flanked by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abdullahi Gwarzo, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, also charged them to ensure that the board promotes principles of integrity, honesty, transparency, and fairness in the profession.
The minister explained that the new board members were appointees of the Minister in accordance with Section 2 (1)b of the Quantity Surveyors (Registration etc) Act No. 31 of 1986 (Now CAP Q1, LFN, 2004); five appointees to represent the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors in accordance with Section 2(1) c of the Act and four (4) appointees representing institutions of higher education.
He said: “The construction sector, of which Quantity Surveyors are a big part, is a major driver of employment and economic growth. As Board members, I ask you to leverage your wealth of experience and professional training, to ensure a reduction in the high cost of construction projects and procurement in the country.
“ I also charge you to ensure that the Board promotes principles of integrity, honesty, transparency, and fairness in the profession. This means accurate representation of project costs, avoiding conflicts of interest, and acting in the best interests of clients and the public. Integrity not only safeguards the reputation of individual practitioners but also enhances the credibility of the Quantity Surveying Profession.
“At this juncture, I wish to commend the relationship between the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board which I understand has been very cordial. Your collaboration and mutual respect are worthy of emulation.
“I encourage you to keep it up. Let me congratulate all of you, once more, for this appointment. In accordance with First Schedule, Section 2(2) 7 of your Act, you are expected to elect a President among you to steer the affairs of the Board and I wish you a successful election’’.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated board members, QS Onasile Obafemi Oluwole, who expressed his delight over the appointment, promised that the 10th board of the QSRBN will continue to act in the best interest of the public.
Oluwole, however, called on the ministry to engage QS firms for consultancy, saying that Quantity Surveyors are ready to contribute their quota to the advancement of the built environment in the country.
Members of the new board are; Qss Onashile Obafemi Oluwole; Pemi Samuel Temitope; Edem Patrick Theophilus; Georgewill Oribu Oprite Monday; Dr. Bello Fatima Muhammad; Gengle Abubakar Garba and Dr. Bashir Aminu Muhammad.
Others are; Qss Mafimidiwo Bamidele Adeniyi; Akabudike Priscilla; Ejiekwu Bede Nnanna; Adamu Anas Mohammed; Professor Dada Joshua Oluwasuji; Ofoegbu Brendan Uche; Dr. Mohammed Kasimu Alhaji; and Abdullahi Idris Gambo.
