By Joy Oyerinde
The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos Branch, has urged estate management and valuation students to focus on competence, sound judgment and value delivery as they prepare for professional practice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Fellow of NIESV, Mr Olusanjo Fawole, gave the advice at the Fifth Hope Harriman Students’ Series held at Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), on Thursday.
The event had the theme, “From Classroom to Practice: Owning Your Future in Nigeria’s Evolving Real Estate Landscape”.
It also had the sub-theme, “Land Titling in Nigeria: Why Estate Surveyors and Valuers Should Lead”.
The annual lecture series was to honour Hope Harriman, who was the first Chairman of the NIESV, Lagos Branch.
Fawole said that the labour market would reward competence, not mere certificates.
“The market does not reward certificates but competence, judgment and value,” Fawole said.
He identified major challenges confronting students in transitioning from the classroom to professional practice to include limited interaction with practising professionals.
According to him, the gap restricts students’ exposure to practical knowledge before graduation.
“The practice demands client management and negotiation; the curriculum is different from reality,” he said.
Fawole also said that lack of confidence among young graduates was a challenge.
He advised students to engage in self-development by reading professional journals and improving their practical skills.
This, he said, would equip them to become bold and competent professionals.
Mr Ridwan Balogun, who delivered a lecture on land titling in Nigeria, described it as the process of assigning lawful ownership documents to land through proper documentation.
He highlighted key procedures involved in obtaining land titles to include verification, application and documentation.
In his remarks, the Head of Department of Estate Management and Valuation, LASUSTECH, Mr Olusola Ajibola, commended NIESV for organising programmes beneficial to students.
Ajibola said that such opportunities were scarce during his early years in the profession, making transition into practice more challenging.
He urged students to take full advantage of the programme to have smoother entry into the profession.
Earlier, the Chairman of NIESV, Lagos Branch, Mr Tosin Kadiri, said the Hope Harriman Students’ Series was institutionalised to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the profession.
Kadiri said that employers had repeatedly expressed concerns that many graduates lacked the practical skills required for efficient professional practice.
According to him, the programme provides a platform for students to interact with professionals, build networks and receive mentorship.
He added that LASUSTECH was selected to host the 2026 edition to ensure inclusiveness, noting that previous editions had been held in other institutions.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Abbas Joseph, described the programme as insightful, saying it was a privilege for him to connect with some professionals in the industry.
The event had students from Yaba College of Technology, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, LASUSTECH, Gateway Polytechnic and University of Benin in attendance.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe/Ijeoma Popoola
