Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) held its annual Induction Ceremony for 394 persons who were successful at the SURCON 2022 Professional Examinations. This bring the number of Registered Surveyors in Nigeria to 5404

A Pre – Induction workshop was held on 15^th February, 2023 at Chida International Hotel, Utako District, Abuja where the inductees were prepared for the main induction and the tasks ahead of them as Registered Surveyors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Pre- Induction lectures were delivered by Four Guest speakers:-

• Assoc. Prof. Lola Olayinka – Dosumu, fnis

Topic: Coping Strategies in an Evolving/Dynamic Profession of Surveying and Geoinformatics

• Prof.Dung Pam Sha

Topic: Leadership – Interactive Season

• Prof. Ebele Josephine Emengini, mnis

Topic: Professional Surveying and Geoinformatics practice in a dysfunctional (unstable) economy

• Dr. Shuaibu Muhammed Ade, mnis

Topic: Setting up Cadastral practices: Agenda for young Surveyors

The Induction Ceremony was held on 16^th February, 2023 at the main Hall of Chida International Hotel Utako District, Abuja. Attending the ceremonies were the President of the Council, Surv. Clement Nwabichie, fnis, other members of the Council and Special Guests. The Staff and Management of SURCON led by the Registrar, Surv. Kabir, M.M mni, fnis conducted the two ceremonies.

Special Guests and members who delivered goodwill messages at the events included the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF) – Surv. Abdulganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin fnis, and the President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS – Surv. David. Kayode Oluwamotemi, fnis among others

The highlights of the event included administration of professional oath and presentation of seals and certificates of registration by the Registrar to the 394 newly registered Surveyors. Awards were also presented to candidates who excelled during the Examinations. These were:-

• Surv. Ebere Jude, the winner of Distinguished Senator  Ahmed Lawan Ibrahim, Award for the Overall Best Candidate in SURCON Professional Examinations 2022
• Surv. Eze Tochukwu Bernard, the winner of His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin O. O Akeredolu (SAN). Award for the Best candidate in Survey Laws, Regulation & Professional Practice in SURCON Professional Examinations 2022
• Surv.Okubadejo Ayodele Babatunde, the winner of His Excellency, the Governor of Borno State,  Prof. Babagana U. Zulum, mni Award for the Best candidate in Professional and Developmental Essay 2022
• Surv. Abdulrauf Bintu Bola, the winner of His Excellency  the governor of Cross/River State, Prof. Ben Ayade. Award of the Best performing Female candidate in SURCON Professional Examinations 2022
• Surv. Abdulrauf Bintu Bola, the winner of Surv. Mfon Isong fnis, Award for the Best candidate in Folio in SURCON Professional Examinations 202

The Senate has promised to work towards a speedy passage of the bill seeking amendments to the Surveyors Council of Nigeria Act No. S18 LFN 2004.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from SURCON, led by Surv. Olufemi Kasim fnis, alongside the Registrar, Surv. Kabir M.M. and other management staff.

Lawan was quoted saying, “We are going to ensure that we make the necessary efforts for the bill to see the light of day this time round.

“You should be rest assured that you have the support of the Senate. I will personally push to see that it is signed. We will ensure that the bill gets a very expeditious consideration.”

The SURCON head of delegation said they were at the Senate to reflect on their performances and explore new areas of collaboration with a view to fast-tracking Nigeria’s economic growth and national development.

He (Surv. Olufemi Kasim, fnis) urged the National Assembly to support increased budgetary allocation as a form of capital investment in survey and geo-infomatics.

This, he said, would enable SURCON meet its mandate of surveying and mapping at full capacity so that Nigeria would attain enviable status in the sector like other countries.

He also lamented what he described as dismal number of surveyors in relation to the vast land Nigeria has.

He stated that this was due to poor mapping and its attendant consequences of boundary disputes, insecurity, among others.

The head of delegation urged the Senate and other stakeholders to provide legislative framework that would facilitate an increase in the number of surveyors, their training and establishment of Council offices in each state of the federation.

Surveyor Kabir, M.M, Registrar of Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) invited Vice President Diane Dumashie to participate as a resource person and facilitator in the SURCON annual workshop for training of tertiary institutions survey and geo-informatics educators, which was held at Porto Golf Luxury Resort, Minjibir Kano, Kano state, Nigeria from 1st – 5th July, 2019.

SURCON is the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for the registration and examination of surveyors across all states in Nigeria.  It regulates and controls the practice of Survey profession in the country. Accordingly, it determines the standards of knowledge and skills required to be registered as a member of the profession, organizing annual workshops featuring up and coming technologies combined with leading edge thinking and providing continual professional development for land professionals in Nigeria.

Under the leadership of Registrar, Surveyor Kabir an increasingly popular and participatory approach to running the annual meetings has been established over the past few years.  This 2019 event was designed as a Train-the – Trainers workshop (TTW), which is a learning platform for lectures and instructors in Nigerian accredited institutions that offer survey and geo- informatics.  

Building on the previous years’ workshop, the aim was to increase the awareness of participants on the desirability of fit-for-purpose approach in surveying and cadastre, hence the theme of the workshop is captioned “CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CADASTRE”.   The participants are expected to understand new globally acceptable technologies in surveying and mapping; this in turn underpins the need to redesign the focus of surveying and cadastre from purely production of an accurate map to that of an important input into national development, wealth generation, employment,  environment,  social economic and gender balances; in fact the totality of the SDGs.  

Ultimately, this approach will need a paradigm shift to be fit for the future and consequently will requires consideration of how to overhaul the curriculum of surveying and geoinformatics in Nigeria.

Attending dignitaries included Surv.Kasim M.O, Chairman of The Council, Surv. E. B Awudu, the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors(NIS) was represented by Deputy President Kayode Oluwamatomi and NIS Secretary General, the women’s wing of Surveyors in Nigeria, Women in Surveying,(WIS) was represented by its national coordinator Surv.Gertrude Njar and Surv Angela Etuonovbe. In addition the Chairman SURCON Committee on Education, Surv.Osalusi, F.O, and Chairman Examinations Committee, Surv.Eyo,O.O, Chairman Registration Committee Surv. Haido A.A attended along with several State Surveyor Generals from across the Federation.

There were over 100 land professional educators representing many of the Nigerian polytechnics and Universities and a small number of private practitioners. 

Opening Dignitaries including (L-R)Surv. Osalusi F.O, (Chairman Exam committee), Surv. Kasim M.O, fnis (SURCON Chairman), Surv. Oluwamotemi K.O. (NIS Deputy President), and Dianne Dumashie (FIG Vice President).