Dear esteemed colleagues and friends, (established protocol)

I stand before you today with a deep sense of gratitude and honor as I accept the responsibility of leading our Facility Management National Professional Body as President of the Association of Facility Management Practitioners, Nigeria. I am truly humbled by the trust and confidence that you have placed in me, and I pledge to do my best to serve our organization with integrity, dedication, transparency, and passion.

As facility management professionals, we play a critical role in ensuring that our built environment is safe, functional, and sustainable. We are responsible for managing the physical assets of organizations, and we must ensure that they are maintained to the highest standards to support their strategic, tactical and operational goals and objectives.

Facility management is a complex and dynamic field that requires a broad range of skills, knowledge and competencies. As the new president of our professional body, I am committed to ensuring that our members have access to the tools, resources, and training they need to excel in their roles and as they strive to elevate themselves and the profession from obscurity into the limelight.

Professional development is an essential part of our organization’s mission, and I believe that we can enhance our membership programs to better support capacity building for our members. We will focus on providing relevant and timely training and other enlightenment sessions that reflects the latest industry trends and best practices. We will also explore new avenues for delivering training, such as online courses, webinars, and other digital resources, to make it more accessible and convenient for our members through strategic partnerships with FM training providers both locally and internationally.

In addition to professional development, I believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing with allied professional bodies in the built environment are essential for advancing our profession. We will work to foster a culture of openness and cooperation among our esteemed partners from other professional bodies, and we will create opportunities for networking and sharing ideas. By working together, we can learn from each other and drive innovation in facility management and the built environment.

Advocacy is also a critical aspect of our organization’s mission. We must work to raise awareness of the value of facility management and its contribution to the success of organizations and governments. We will engage with government agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders to promote the importance of facility management and to advocate for policies and initiatives that support our profession.

Our 12-point agenda includes the following.

1. Transparency and accountability in budgeting and assets and resources management by promptly sharing information on our annual budgets and financial statements with members.
2. Encourage investment in the future of the profession by engaging with soon to be engaged Corporate Sustaining Partners in acquiring physical structures and intellectual assets for the growth of the Association and the FM profession.
3. Drive donor and internal membership funding by raising adequate funds to run operations and investments in our strategic programs.
4. Elevate the profile of the FM profession in Nigeria through international and national affiliations. external and internal communication campaigns and engagement at all levels.
5. Influence government policies through advocacy visits and outreaches, publications and strategic partnerships with other industry stakeholders.
6. Institutionalization of Facilities Management by developing national FM standards and industry governance whitepapers, good practice guides, etc.
7. Increase membership participation by added new members with a goal of growing our membership base to 5,000 members in good financial status, who attend meetings, and take part in events regularly.
8. Conduct surveys and research and publish reports to members and other stakeholders
9. Professional membership classification into Student Member, Affiliate Member and Registered Member
10. Academic and professional collaboration with institutions working in the built environment to research and espouse innovative solutions to the challenges of the built environment.
11. FM credentials Framework by issuing a Nigerian FM Credential backed by Continuing Professional Development maintenance points.
12. Endorse and partner training institutions.

Our NEC has already hit the ground running and has come up with action plans to actualize the above strategic focus areas. In the coming days, you will be invited to sessions where our plans will be unveiled, and we invite you to take positions in the various committees to work with the three Directorates in actualizing these action plans.

With the above stated agenda, we hope that our membership value proposition will be greatly enhanced as everyone will be able to among others, enjoy the following benefits

1. Access to professional development opportunities, including training and certification programs.
2. Opportunities to network with other facility management professionals.
3. Access to industry research, best practices, and other resources.
4. Participate in advocacy for policies and regulations that support the growth and development of the profession.
5. Opportunities to enhance credibility and reputation through membership in a professional body.
6. Opportunities for recognition and awards.
7. Access to job boards and other career development resources.
8. Opportunities to take part in volunteerism and community engagement programs.
9. Opportunities to attend events, conferences, and other gatherings to connect with peers and learn from experts.
10. Access to publications and other industry-specific information.
11. Opportunities to contribute to the development of the profession through involvement in committees, task forces, and other working groups.
12. Access to mentorship and coaching programs.
13. Opportunities to take part in benchmarking and performance measurement initiatives.
14. Access to tools and resources for facility management professionals, such as software platforms and technology solutions.
15. Opportunities to collaborate with other organizations, such as trade associations and industry groups.
16. Opportunities to connect with suppliers and vendors of facility management products and services.
17. Access to continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities.
18. Opportunities to share knowledge and best practices with peers.
19. Access to a community of like-minded professionals who share a commitment to excellence in facility management.
20. Opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the facility management profession through research, advocacy, and other activities.

As we embark on this new journey together, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I believe that we have the talent, the passion, and the commitment to take our professional body to new heights, and I am honored to be a part of this journey with you.

In conclusion, I want to thank you once again for the trust and confidence that you have placed in me. I look forward to working with all of you to advance the field of facility management and to serve our members and communities.

Thank you.