By Esther Onyegbula

Stakeholders in the facility management industry have emphasized the role of safety in sustainable facility management.

They made this known at a special colloquium organized by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Nigeria Chapter, in collaboration with Big 5 Construct Nigeria, held recently at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.

The event gathered key players from the built environment to discuss pressing challenges and propose solutions for the industry. A common theme emerged: the importance of safety in achieving sustainable facility management.

Speaking at the event, IFMA Nigeria Chapter President, ESV Olalekan Akinwunmi, said, “Facility management is all about the people, the environment, and the economy. If the environment is not safe, then you cannot carry out any economic activities. Facility management is significant in enhancing the well-being of people, the environment, and the economy.”

“IFMA Nigeria has been advocating for sustainable facility management for over 27 years, focusing particularly on building projects from their inception,” Akinwunmi added.

Underscoring the importance of safety as a prerequisite for sustainable facility management, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Dr. Lanre Omojola, stated: “The Safety Commission was set up to ensure safety for a state that is increasing in population.”

Omojola explained that the commission’s efforts focus on evaluating risks, engaging stakeholders, educating the public, and enforcing safety standards to protect the estimated 24 million residents of Lagos.

Discussing how technology plays a crucial role in facility management, particularly in improving data collection and monitoring building systems in real time, Managing Director of Benign Space, Modupe Odude, said, “Stakeholders have been able to leverage technology better when it comes to facility management. Real-time data and information from building systems are helping to manage issues before they escalate.”

The colloquium also featured contributions from Ms. Iyabode Aboaba, COO of Freedom Park; ESV Stephen Ola Jagun, Managing Partner at Jagun Associates; and Mr. Segun Adebayo, Immediate Past President of IFMA Nigeria Chapter, who all emphasized the need for collective action to promote safety in facility management.

The event highlighted the need for greater awareness, adoption of technology, and regulatory support to ensure that safety becomes a foundational component of sustainable facility management practices in Nigeria.