The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended members of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) for the sustained partnership and collaboration with the state government, leading to the successes recorded in the last seven and half years.
Obaseki said this during a gala night organised by the Institute to mark the end of its 54th Annual National Conference in Benin City and inauguration of a new President, Victor Adekunle Alonge.
The governor who thanked the Council for choosing Edo State and Benin City as the host city for its 54th Annual Conference, commended the leadership of the immediate past President of the body, Mr. Johnbull Amayaevbo who hails from Edo State, noting that he has made the people of the state proud with his numerous achievements in office.
The governor said, “I promised you when I came to Abuja to commission your Secretariat that I will be here with you in Edo State to host this Conference. I traveled and just came back from Italy last night where I served as Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale in Italy. Nigeria had an amazing art exhibition in that country.”
Addressing the Institute's new president, Obaseki noted, “We are here at this gala night to celebrate you as the new president of the body and you will promise us that you will continue from where Johnbull stopped.
“The secret of development of our dear State is because of the work your members have done in this State. They raised the consciousness for real valuation. I want to thank the Council and body for the assistance your members have given us in the State.
“We keep flying over our State and do our geo-mapping, and today as we work on our land use charges, we are getting your members to help us with valuations. Your members have helped us tremendously in sanitizing the built environment. We issue certificates of occupancy (CofO) within 60 days and it's one of your members that is helping us lead that drive.
“Our Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, who is one of your members, is helping us sanitize our planning process in Edo State, and also now leading and almost completing our 30 years development plan and Benin City Master plan.”
“You have a lot of resources here and we will help and support you to achieve the plans for your administration," the governor reassured.
In his response, the new President of NIESV, Victor Adekunle Alonge thanked the governor, assuring of sustained collaboration with the government to drive development in the State.”