Alpha Mead FM Roundtable Seeks More Government—Private Sector Collaborations

Stakeholders at the 2014 Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable have harped on the need for further collaboration between government and the private sector in the provision and maintenance of infrastructure and Real Estate assets in Nigeria.

The Facilities Management Roundtable is an annual event organised by leading facilities management company, Alpha Mead Facilities Management and Services Limited, in commemoration of the World Facilities Management Day, celebrated across the globe.

The annual event, which is in its third year, brings together stakeholders within Nigeria's built environment, alongside some of their counterparts from outside Nigeria, to raise awareness of the facilities management profession and its value to the development of the nation's economy.

Delivering the Keynote address on the theme: 'Toward Optimal Performance of Infrastructure and Real Estate Assets in Nigeria', Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on NEPAD, Mr. Ademola Amure, said it would be futile to leave the provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure to the government alone.

The Lagos SSG further highlighted the need for government-private sector collaborations saying, 'Our experience as a nation has shown that a mutually beneficial handshake between Government and the private sector is important to achieve the desired momentum in economic growth, stimulated by adequate and functional critical infrastructure and housing.'

She explained that government considers infrastructure such as power, water, agriculture, telecommunications, road and transportation as critical, hence, 'it is unthinkable that, in the 21st century, any country will contemplate a thriving economy without providing and maintaining critical infrastructure and Real Estate.'

Citing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Lagos Home Ownership Scheme (Lagos HOMS) as noteworthy examples, the SSG noted that, in the face of a growing population, Lagos is engaging private sectors in the areas of Real Estate and Infrastructure.

In his welcome address, Engr. Femi Akintunde, Managing Director, Alpha Mead Facilities Management and Services Limited, also encouraged government at all levels to continue to embrace the Public-Private Sector Partnership (PPP) initiative. He explained that this is becoming imperative against the backdrop of the recent rebasing of Nigeria's economy, the privatization of critical sectors and the floating of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMCR).

'Giving the recent rebasing of the Nigerian economy, making it the largest in Africa, it is imperative that we have in place a robust structure and strategy to guarantee adequate provision and efficient management of the public infrastructure required to support such a large economy,' he said.

In his presentation on 'The Evolution of Green Buildings in Nigeria', Mr. Shina Oliyide, a certified Green Building expert and General Manager - Technical, AMFacilities, noted that, in spite of increased adoption of greener business practices across the world, there is still information gap about the concept in Nigeria. Other discussions at the roundtable include FM Benchmarking and the risk and opportunities in FM outsourcing in Nigeria.

The event had in attendance, Mr. Adebayo Faari, the Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry; Patricia Kenneth-Divine, Trade Development Manager, UK Trade & Investment; Tolu Osinibi, Executive Director, FCMB Capital Markets, among others.

AMFacilities is a notable ISO certified facility management company, which has in the past three years commemorated the World Facility Management Day in Nigeria. The commemoration highlights an industry-focused FM and asset management roundtable, which brings together industry stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria to chart a course for FM in Africa.

AMFacilities manages high profile clients such as Shell, Total, UACN, Nokia Siemens, Ericsson and Primrose Properties Limited. Major projects handled include total facilities management for the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Twinlakes Estate, Ado Bayero Mall, (Kano), 1004 Estates, Shell offices and residential quarters in Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos, Ultimate Apartments, Total, First E&P and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), among others.

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