Opatola: FIABCI-Nigeria Must Deepen Government Engagement, Grow Membership

Akin Opatola, the former President of FIABCI-Nigeria, has called on the new leadership of the Nigerian chapter of the international real estate federation to build upon the organization's visibility, deepen engagement with government, and expand membership. Opatola, who served as President for two years, emphasized the importance of real estate development being part of an ecosystem that includes government and policymakers.

He highlighted that FIABCI-Nigeria's successful hosting of the FIABCI World Congress enabled the organization to establish stronger relationships with government officials, as evidenced by the participation of the President, the Minister of Defence, and several other ministers. The chapter also gained access to global best practices through its international network, which can be integrated into local policy discussions.

In the future, FIABCI-Nigeria plans to visit Taichung, Taiwan, to study the country's land administration system and hold a mini-roundtable with Taiwanese officials to exchange ideas on land administration and best practices. Additionally, Opatola mentioned the UN Spring Symposium, which was attended by four officials from the Federal Ministry of Housing, where they presented their findings on affordable housing to the Minister of Housing.

The Lagos State Real Estate Marketplace also benefited from FIABCI-Nigeria's involvement, with the chapter bringing in about 18 or 19 international and African real estate professionals. Opatola acknowledged the challenges faced during his tenure, including the limitations imposed by the two-year leadership cycle and the need for more members to strengthen the organization.

He suggested extending leadership tenures to three or four years to allow for more substantial contributions and warned that frequent leadership rotations could create difficulties in filling executive positions.