By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe
The Founder of B. Adedipe Associates Ltd., Prof. Biodun Adedipe, has urged professionals to build resilient organisations that will continue to perform well after their founders would have left.
Adedipe made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Heads of Practice Assembly of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos State Branch, on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly had the theme: “Leadership in Real Estate: Navigating 21st Century Challenges for Heads of Practice”.
Speaking on “Building Resilient Practices for the 21st Century: Beyond Founder and Leader”, Adedipe said that professional practices should be structured to operate effectively and efficiently without depending solely on their founders.
According to him, organisations that outlive their founders are those with documented policies, clearly defined procedures, efficient business processes and disciplined workplace practices.
He said: “The goal is to build organisations that become stronger without the founder. Policies should not remain in the head of one person but should be properly documented.
“Procedures for carrying out tasks should also be clearly defined, while business processes must be designed to deliver value to clients.
“Staff should understand their responsibilities and perform effectively even when the founder is absent.”
Adedipe said that organisations wishing to remain relevant in the 21st Century should have a clear vision which every employee should understand and work toward.
He listed three pillars of any successful organisation as strategy, systems and people, adding that businesses should invest in talent development, embrace collaboration and build strong systems that would promote efficiency.
He also advised founders to separate their personal finances from company resources to enable businesses to retain funds for growth instead of relying heavily on borrowing.
The Managing Partner of Chris Davidson Advisory, Mr Babatunde Bamgboye, urged real estate professionals to embrace transformational leadership to address emerging challenges in the sector.
Speaking on “Transformational Leadership in Real Estate,” Bamgboye said that advancement in technologies required estate surveyors and valuers to rethink how they would operate their businesses.
He said that innovations such as advanced composite building materials could reduce construction costs, improve energy efficiency and help to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit.
According to him, leadership is about managing people effectively, creating a shared vision and helping employees to take ownership of their responsibilities.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr Kamar Olowosago, commended NIESV, Lagos State Branch, for organising the assembly.
Olowosago said the programme provided an opportunity to learn and relearn, adding that participation of the bureau’s leadership reflected the agency’s commitment to continuous learning and improving service delivery.
Earlier, the Chairman of NIESV, Lagos State Branch, Mr Tosin Kadiri, said the assembly was organised to strengthen leadership capacity among real estate professionals.
Kadiri said the theme of the event reflected the need for practitioners to adapt to economic changes, regulatory developments and technological advancement.
He urged leaders in the profession to embrace innovation, leverage technology and build sustainable organisations to remain competitive.
NAN reports that the event was attended by chief executive officers, heads of practice, estate surveyors and valuers, as well as officials of the Lagos State Lands Bureau. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola