L-R: Surv. Bode Adeaga, Chairman of the occasion and member of the Board of Fellows, Ogun State Nigeria Institution of Surveyors, Prof. Adewole Adedeji, Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife the Guest Speaker and Surv. Kehinde Isijola, Chairman, NIS Body of Fellows, Ogun State, at the Fellows Connect & New Fellows Welcome Programme, held at Ogun NIS Multipurpose Hall, Magbon, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The need to review the act that established the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON) has been identified as one of the numerous measures that are calling for urgent attention by elders in the profession in order to protect and enhance the survey profession in Nigeria
A don, the Dean, Faculty Of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor Adewole Adedeji, made this submission at the Fellows Connect and New Fellows Welcome of the Ogun State Body Of Fellows, held at Ogun NIS Multipurpose Hall, Magbon, Abeokuta, the state capital, with the theme: “Enhancing the Dignity of the Survey Profession in Nigeria: The Imperative of Strict Adherence to Professional Ethics”
The Professor who was the guest speaker at the event called on the elders of the profession who were mostly members of the Board of Fellows to proactively rise up to address policies especially from government that could negatively threaten the sustainability of the profession.
According to him, SURCON Act which had been enacted over a decade was long overdue for review to align with current trend of modern technologies, ideas and innovations.
Adedeji added that when elders in the profession are complacent and sit back without critically examining policies made and its impact on survey profession in years to come, the continuous existence of the profession could be put at risk and jeopardise professional practices.
He noted that professional surveyors have many responsibilities to offer the country through mapping out project areas, identifying potential risks, and verifying plans with new technology and innovation.
He said land surveying is shifting towards a highly data-oriented position, with detailed data available for individual, group of individuals and companies interested in streamlining and optimizing their operations, and pointed out that government should desist from using survey as an avenue for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Chairman, Ogun state Nigeria Institution Of Surveyors, Board Of Fellows (BOF), Surv. Kehinde Isijola said the theme of programme was very apt and educative to members of the Board of Fellows, noting that it would assist the professional body on their mentorship roles that would impact positively on the practice.
Surv. Isijola while welcoming the new Fellows into the body task them to continue to be upright and uphold the ethics of the profession, noting that no one achieve positively with unethical practices in any profession.
In his submission, the Chairman of the day, Surv. Chief Bode Adeaga admonished the new Fellows to be a good ambassador and be upright in their practices, saying that surveying promotes environmental management and conservation activities.
He said that the role of surveying/land surveyors in infrastructural development was critical to the growth and prosperity of any nation and cannot be underestimated, adding that the profession has had positive economic, social and environmental impact on the people, communities and nations.
On behalf of the new Fellows, Hon. Surv. Iretiolu Sotayo while pledging their readiness to uphold the integrity of the profession, said that the Board of Fellows has always been setting the pace for the members on yearly basis through the induction of new members as Fellows, saying that being a Fellows was very challenging, as another responsibility had been given to them by continually holding the uprightness of the practices.
He urged the upcoming members to be steadfast and maintained the code of conduct of the professional body, saying that young surveyors should continue to maintain dignity and should let the ‘sky be their beginning’, so as to make and move the profession to a greater heights.
