From 5 Women In A Class Of 150 To Leading Nigeria’s Real Estate: NIESV Women Rise, Demand Equal Seats, Warn Public Against Quacks
From 5 Women In A Class Of 150 To Leading Nigeria’s Real Estate: NIESV Women Rise, Demand Equal Seats, Warn Public Against Quacks
There was a time when women were almost invisible in Nigeria’s estate surveying and valuation profession.
National Coordinator of the National Women’s Wing of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Ibironke Ogun, remembers it clearly.
When she was about to enter the field, in a class of about 150 students, there were just five women.
Today, the story has changed. Women are now occupying more professional and leadership positions across the industry, and the women’s wing says it is time for full recognition, equal opportunities and bigger visibility.
Ogun spoke while briefing journalists ahead of a landmark four-day retreat and investiture for the women’s wing, scheduled for Abeokuta, Ogun State, from November 26 to 29.
She described the programme as the first of its kind for the women’s wing, and a turning point for women in real estate practice.
Abeokuta To Host 250 Female Estate Surveyors And Valuers
The retreat, themed Women in Real Estate Practice: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects, is expected to bring together between 200 and 250 female estate surveyors and valuers from NIESV branches across Nigeria.
According to Ogun, the gathering is not just a celebration. It is designed to strengthen professional capacity, improve visibility, build networks and create more opportunities for women in the sector.
It will feature professional lectures, networking sessions, cultural activities and visits to tourist attractions in Ogun State.
The investiture ceremony, fixed for Saturday, November 28, will feature a lecture by Mrs Yinka, Managing Director of Orange Island. Other professional women in the built environment are also expected to participate.
Ogun said the programme will give female professionals from across the country a chance to exchange ideas, build capacity and develop strategies for greater participation in the industry.
Right Peg In Right Hole: Qualified Women Deserve Big Projects
The central demand of the women’s wing is simple: give qualified women the same chance as men.
Ogun said the wing will push to ensure that qualified female estate surveyors get equal opportunities to manage projects, secure professional appointments and occupy strategic positions in government and private organisations.
One of the things we will be doing is to ensure that the right peg is put in the right hole, she said.
She also said the wing will fight for greater visibility for female-led firms, insisting that women estate surveyors and valuers have the same professional competence, training and capacity as their male counterparts.
For Ogun, gender should not determine who gets a project. Competence should.
Quackery Is Killing Trust In Real Estate
Beyond gender inclusion, Ogun raised a serious alarm about quackery and fraudulent property transactions, which she described as major problems confronting the real estate sector.
She warned members of the public to always verify the professional status of any estate practitioner before engaging them.
Patronising unqualified operators, she said, can expose property owners and investors to heavy financial losses.
Registered estate surveyors and valuers, she explained, must undergo professional training and examinations, and must operate within established regulatory and professional frameworks.
They also operate under approved scales of fees, unlike quacks who may charge arbitrary fees to attract unsuspecting clients.
Estate Surveyors Do More Than Sell Property
Many Nigerians think estate surveyors only sell houses. Ogun said that is far from the truth.
Estate surveyors and valuers, she explained, play critical roles in valuation, property management, feasibility and viability studies, development advisory services and project coordination.
They can advise investors on the appropriate use of land, and bring together other specialists like architects, land surveyors and engineers to ensure developments deliver real value.
An estate surveyor is trained to do feasibility and viability studies of projects. We advise whether a project is viable and feasible and whether it will give value for whatever investment has been put into it, she said.
AI Will Help, Not Replace Professionals
On technology, Ogun said the women’s wing will explore artificial intelligence, AI, and other emerging technologies to improve practice.
She was clear that AI will not replace professional judgement. Instead, it will serve as an assisted tool to improve efficiency, analysis and service delivery.
AI and other technologies are not going to be 100 per cent of what we do, but they will be assisted tools that will enhance our job, she said.
Catching Them Young: NIESV Women To Storm Secondary Schools
To secure the future of the profession, Ogun disclosed plans to introduce more young people, especially secondary school students, to estate surveying and valuation.
NIESV branches across the country will be encouraged to organise career talks in schools to educate students about the profession and its opportunities.
The initiative, she said, is part of efforts to catch them young and help students understand the difference between estate surveying and other professions in the built environment.
Patronise Registered Professionals, Ogun Urges Public
Ogun closed with a direct appeal to property owners and investors: patronise registered estate surveyors and valuers, irrespective of gender, to protect your investments and ensure professional accountability.
Her message to women in the profession was equally clear: you are qualified, you are competent, and you deserve a seat at the table.
Do you think women in real estate are getting equal opportunities in Nigeria? Have you ever fallen victim to a quack estate agent? Tell us in the comment section and share this story to protect someone.
