Built Environment Professionals’ Perception of the Importance of Facility Management Professionals at the Design Stage

There is a misconception that facility management (FM) professionals are needed only after a building has been completed, in order to manage maintenance and operating expenses. Hence, they are hardly considered an essential part of the design team. To query this notion, this study investigated the perception of built environment professionals on the importance of FM professionals at the design stage. Quantitative research using a questionnaire survey was adopted. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to four categories of built environment professionals (engineers - civil, electrical and mechanical; architects; quantity surveyors, and builders) in Lagos, Nigeria and 266 (78%) of the questionnaires were found useful for analysis. The data was analysed using percentages, mean, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The outcome of the analysis showed that respondents agree that FM professionals are important at the design stage in order to review design from a maintenance, operation, and serviceability perspective. The study also revealed that architects and quantity surveyors are fully convinced that FM professionals are crucial at the design stage, while builders and engineers are not. It was suggested that the governing body of FM professionals, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), should organize forums where other built environment professionals can be educated on the importance of involving FM professionals at the design stage. Moreover, IFMA should leverage its membership base to secure meetings with owners of facilities with high running costs and demonstrate to them the savings accruable had they engaged FM professionals at the design stage. This is with a view to encouraging such owners to engage IFMA members from the onset of their subsequent projects. Doing so will ensure the delivery of cost-efficient facilities

Built Environment Professionals’ Perception of the Importance of Facility Management Professionals at the Design Stage

There is a misconception that facility management (FM) professionals are needed only after a building has been completed, in order to manage maintenance and operating expenses. Hence, they are hardly considered an essential part of the design team. To query this notion, this study investigated the perception of built environment professionals on the importance of FM professionals at the design stage. Quantitative research using a questionnaire survey was adopted. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to four categories of built environment professionals (engineers - civil, electrical and mechanical; architects; quantity surveyors, and builders) in Lagos, Nigeria and 266 (78%) of the questionnaires were found useful for analysis. The data was analysed using percentages, mean, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The outcome of the analysis showed that respondents agree that FM professionals are important at the design stage in order to review design from a maintenance, operation, and serviceability perspective. The study also revealed that architects and quantity surveyors are fully convinced that FM professionals are crucial at the design stage, while builders and engineers are not. It was suggested that the governing body of FM professionals, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), should organize forums where other built environment professionals can be educated on the importance of involving FM professionals at the design stage. Moreover, IFMA should leverage its membership base to secure meetings with owners of facilities with high running costs and demonstrate to them the savings accruable had they engaged FM professionals at the design stage. This is with a view to encouraging such owners to engage IFMA members from the onset of their subsequent projects. Doing so will ensure the delivery of cost-efficient facilities

Challenges and Prospects of Property Ownership in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria: A Review of Literature

The aim of this paper is to identify property ownership challenges and prospects in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State with a view to guide property owners towards homeownership or property ownership. In the course of writing this paper, secondary data were collected from both published and unpublished journals, articles, reports, maps, and the internet was consulted to acquire more data as regards this study.  Data sources are websites, government publications, books, internal records, journal articles, etc. Property ownership benefits identified include; property owner gain prestige and political power; provides shelter, health, welfare and wealth; good investment as regards to stable income generation; provides long-term monetary security; tax benefits; value appreciation overtime; provides hedge against inflation; etc.  Property ownership challenges identified include; improper or lack of title document that could result to property ownership insecurity and denial to credit facilities; gender discrimination in accessing land or property; inadequate or lack of access to justice; presence of ineffective and inefficient land management system, laws and agencies; land dealings fraudulence and conflicts; poverty or lack of finance; etc. Some of the recommendations to mitigate property ownership challenges include; government and land policymakers should ensure that laws and management system are efficient and effective, property market should be flexible for easy access to land and information, programmes should be scheduled to guard against gender discrimination as regard property ownership, law officials should ensure court proceedings are less costly and flexible for easy access to justice, etc

Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Perception of the Role of Big Data in Property Marketing in Lagos, Nigeria

Property marketing in Nigeria has frequently been characterised by unique challenges due to inadequate and unreliable data. In recent times, big data has presented a wide range of solutions to contemporary issues in different industries, including real estate. Notwithstanding, there is a paucity of practical studies on the role of big data in property marketing of many developing nations, including Nigeria. Hence, there is a need to investigate the role of big data in transforming property marketing in Nigeria. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ (ESVs) perception of the role of big data in property marketing in Lagos, Nigeria. 82 questionnaires were administered to ESVs in the study area and 55 (67%) of them were found useful for analysis. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and relative importance index. The results revealed that out of 9 possible roles of big data in property marketing, the 2 most notable ones are that real estate firms can execute laser-focused marketing strategies; and they can match demand with supply. These outcomes distinctly disclosed the merits of adopting big data in marketing properties. The implication of these findings is that big data has the potential of reducing fraud due to the presence of sufficient and reliable data in the property market. This study concludes that big data is a worthy addition to the toolset of real estate practitioners, particularly with respect to property marketing, and wholly recommends its adoption

Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Perception of the Role of Big Data in Property Marketing in Lagos, Nigeria

Property marketing in Nigeria has frequently been characterised by unique challenges due to inadequate and unreliable data. In recent times, big data has presented a wide range of solutions to contemporary issues in different industries, including real estate. Notwithstanding, there is a paucity of practical studies on the role of big data in property marketing of many developing nations, including Nigeria. Hence, there is a need to investigate the role of big data in transforming property marketing in Nigeria. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ (ESVs) perception of the role of big data in property marketing in Lagos, Nigeria. 82 questionnaires were administered to ESVs in the study area and 55 (67%) of them were found useful for analysis. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and relative importance index. The results revealed that out of 9 possible roles of big data in property marketing, the 2 most notable ones are that real estate firms can execute laser-focused marketing strategies; and they can match demand with supply. These outcomes distinctly disclosed the merits of adopting big data in marketing properties. The implication of these findings is that big data has the potential of reducing fraud due to the presence of sufficient and reliable data in the property market. This study concludes that big data is a worthy addition to the toolset of real estate practitioners, particularly with respect to property marketing, and wholly recommends its adoption

TOWARDS A VIABLE LANGUAGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM IN NIGERIA

This paper explores the possibilities of achieving a viable language of human rights activism in contemporary Nigeria. It argues that the style of language of human right activists is predominantly violent, harsh and incapable of achieving the crucial goals and visions of human right activism in Nigeria: The methodology is analytical and empirical. In its analytical approach, it discusses the meaning and roles of language in societal cohesion. Its empirical character derives from the collation and analysis of data of some selected speeches of Nigerian activists on violation of citizens’ human rights, conflict resolution and effective democratization process. Finally, while recognizing the pivotal role of human rights activism in contemporary Nigeria, the paper emphasizes the need to inject humane linguistic items that reflect a measure of respect, integrity and modesty in the language style of human rights activists. This is necessary in order to achieve dialogue, understanding and consensus on controversial issues among human rights activists, government functionaries and stakeholders in the Nigerian state. This is the only viable path to sustainable democracy and human development

The Role of Education towards Achieving Sustaining Housing and Environmental Development in Nigeria

 Education constitutes the most effective means that the society needs to confront the challenges of the world. Succinctly put, the sustainable progress of man depends wholly on educated minds in every walk of life. It is the major factor that can be used to create enduring relationships among people and foster greater respect for the needs of human beings in any situation on earth. The paper examines the possible ways of sustaining existing low-cost housing estates in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lessons from experiences of developed nations on low-cost housing estates welfare mechanisms as it relates to the basis of allocation, usage, periodic maintenance, transferability and social cohesion were ascertained from literature and compared with existing situations in Lagos State. Findings showed that there is need for continuous life learning efforts to be embarked upon and sustained by the three tiers of government in Nigeria towards achieving sustainable housing and environmental development. The study recommends that the three arms of government need to embark on educational re-orientation of Nigerians on sustainable home ownership built on equitable, social, economic and political fair play

Challenges and Prospects of Property Ownership in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria: A Review of Literature

The aim of this paper is to identify property ownership challenges and prospects in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State with a view to guide property owners towards homeownership or property ownership. In the course of writing this paper, secondary data were collected from both published and unpublished journals, articles, reports, maps, and the internet was consulted to acquire more data as regards this study.  Data sources are websites, government publications, books, internal records, journal articles, etc. Property ownership benefits identified include; property owner gain prestige and political power; provides shelter, health, welfare and wealth; good investment as regards to stable income generation; provides long-term monetary security; tax benefits; value appreciation overtime; provides hedge against inflation; etc.  Property ownership challenges identified include; improper or lack of title document that could result to property ownership insecurity and denial to credit facilities; gender discrimination in accessing land or property; inadequate or lack of access to justice; presence of ineffective and inefficient land management system, laws and agencies; land dealings fraudulence and conflicts; poverty or lack of finance; etc. Some of the recommendations to mitigate property ownership challenges include; government and land policymakers should ensure that laws and management system are efficient and effective, property market should be flexible for easy access to land and information, programmes should be scheduled to guard against gender discrimination as regard property ownership, law officials should ensure court proceedings are less costly and flexible for easy access to justice, etc

A Heuristic Method of Establishing Operational Effectiveness of Hotel Facilities in South-Western Nigeria

Assessing the operational effectiveness of hotel facilities has always been problematic in that opinions of technicians or engineers when sought were rooted in intuition (subjective and speculative, though cheaper) instead of reliance on standard tests laid down by established institutions (objective and scientific, though expensive and laborious). One sure way of achieving good result is by seeking the perception of the hotel users (the customers) on the level of functionality of the facilities paid for and being enjoyed. This research seeks to establish a method of establishing operational functionality of hotel facilities by exploring the perceptions of the customers about these facilities. The research is executed in order to find an alternative way of measuring performance of hotel facilities beyond technical modulation. Data were collected from hotels‟ customers in addition to physical assessment of hotel facilities and system operations. Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting the samples while sample size was determined based on formula suggested by Kothari (1978). Data analysis was executed using descriptive statistics, mathematical permutation and combination principle and Spearman Correlation analysis. It was found out that facilities‟ performance could be established by assessing quantity, quality and workability of facilities independently as variables and then combine these variables mathematically using permutation and combination principles reinforced with Chi-Square (X2). While Engineers focused on operational sturdiness of facilities as main yardstick for measuring performance of facilities; users focused on quantity and quality as well as operational sturdiness of the facilities. Although engineering test and mechanical manipulation are sine qua non in facilities operations, yet it could be reinforced with perception of customers focusing majorly on three parameters (Quantity, Quality and Operational Sturdiness) duly analysed to give independent opinion devoid of human manipulation