Surveyors harp on professionalism in nation building

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A three-day General Assembly of the Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) themed “Building Survey Industry in Nigeria: How Viable and Feasible”, has ended with a charge for members to maintain the ethics and standard of the profession.

Mr Alabo Charles, former President of APPSN, who doubles as a guest lecturer in the delegates’ conference, emphasized the scope and importance of a robust survey for national development as well as understanding the current landscape, its challenges, opportunities and strategy for building a viable and feasible survey sector.

Charles who explained that surveyors have an eighty per cent role to play in any road construction or developmental projects but lack of a constitutional framework to serve as a legal backing to ensure their involvement advised surveyors to be abreast with modern technology and approaches to be relevant in the system.

Describing the theme of the programme “Building Survey Industry in Nigeria: How Viable and Feasible” as apt to weed off quacks off the profession, Mr Igo Akpobolokemi, Chairman APPSN Bayelsa chapter, enumerated some challenges surveyors are experiencing in the state.

Presenting the quarterly report of the branch, Mr Macdonald Tarinyo, Secretary APPSN Bayelsa, noted the collaboration between Nigeria Institute of Surveyors and APPSN to commemorate this year’s World Surveyor’s Day, welfare packages for members and appointment into Bayelsa State Directorate for Flood and Erosion Control.

Commending the guest lecturer for reminding participants at the conference of some areas in the profession they needed upgrading, Mr Furoebi Akene, a delegate from the Abuja branch, sued for continuous training and retraining by members to build their capacity.

Goodwill messages from Surveyor General Bayelsa State, Mr Dede Moses, Nigeria Institute of Surveyors, APPSN delegates from various states, and award presentation to the immediate Past President APPSN, Alabo C.D. Charles for his remarkable achievement climaxed the event.