Experts task BIFM on capacity building, growing FM industry
Experts in facilities management, real estate, finance and other stakeholders have tasked the Nigerian chapter of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) on building capacity and growing the facilities management (FM) industry in the country.
Capacity in this industry is quite limited and, in the opinion of these experts, the few capacities that have been built over the years are constantly rattled by the day-to-day challenges in the economy.
The experts who spoke at a breakfast meeting organised by BIFM in Lagos recently, noted that the problems posed by the economy challenge the reasoning and sense of direction of FM practitioners.
Femi Akintunde, MD/CEO, Alpha Mead Facilities Management and Services Limited, advised BIFM to come up and take a stand on these challenges, adding, “they also have to build the confidence level in FM as a business; there is lack of competition and it is such that people are not being challenged”.
Akintunde advised that the institute should constitute itself into a knowledge resource; be a go-to area for knowledge, provide quality market intelligence, data and research because, according to him, there is a big knowledge gap in the FM industry which is still struggling for identity.
MKO Balogun, MD/CEO, Global Property and Facilities International Limited, agrees, pointing that though building capacity could be very difficult, BIFM should take up the challenges that International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) could not take up.
“The coming of these foreign ideas should be seen as opportunities to grow the FM industry; BIFM should be the driver and enabler of the growth of this industry” , Balogun advised, noting that the institute has the challenge of making its existence known even in schools.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Wale Odufalu, the chairman of BIFM Nigeria, had pointed out that capacity building was at the heart of their operation, disclosing that the institute awards certificates based on experiential knowledge.
Odufalu reasoned that there was a lot to be done to call for competition, adding that there should be differentiation in offerings from the various professionals in the industry.
“We are looking into the areas of data and research; we want to give identity to this profession and also a sense of pride to the facilities manager; we are opting for co-operation and collaboration in the industry”, she assured.
BIFM, the professional body for facilities management, was founded in 1993 to promote excellence in FM for the benefit of practitioners, the economy and society. It supports and represents over 16,000 members around the world at both individual and organization levels, and thousands more through qualification and training.
The institute has supported both individuals and organizations in Nigeria in recent times and the growing interest in the institute led to the inauguration of a Nigerian committee early this year.
Odufalu assured that with the formation of this committee, the institute was committed to supporting fellow FM professionals in Nigeria by sharing knowledge and resources, facilitating events for industry professionals to network and learn, and to contribute to promoting standards and best practices in FM.