Qs Oluwode Kolawole, the chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Oyo State branch, has advocated for increased public understanding of the vital role that quantity surveyors play in Nigeria’s building sector.
Qs Kolawole, who started his position as Chairman in 2024 and has over 30 years of professional expertise, clarified in an exclusive interview that many individuals mistake quantity surveyors for land surveyors.
He pointed out that quantity surveyors specialise in cost management for building projects, whereas land surveyors concentrate on mapping and land borders, and estate surveyors manage and value land.
“The cost of any project, be it a building, refinery, railway, harbour, or airport, must be established before it is carried out. “Who among you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” is what the Bible states in Luke 14:28. It’s precisely what we do. Without us, no significant government or private project could proceed,” Kolawole stated.
Regarding the lack of public knowledge about the field, he acknowledged that many students enter quantity surveying by chance, frequently after being rejected from architecture or civil engineering programs.
Stressing that the field offers excellent job chances in academics, banking, government ministries, contracting firms, and private consulting, he urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to pursue it.
Qs Kolawole further emphasised that the NIQS, which manages professional membership and exams, and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), which is in charge of licensing and practice standards, provide strong regulation of the field.
He went on to say that it is simple to verify registered experts online, which helps to reduce quackery in the field.
Qs Kolawole cited a number of factors contributing to the ongoing problem of building collapses in Nigeria, including as structural failures, quacks doing specialised tasks, a lack of oversight, the use of inferior materials, and regulatory bodies’ negligence.
He emphasised that building is a collaborative process that calls for quantity surveyors, engineers, architects, and builders to all operate within their own fields of expertise.
“Every professional involved in a building must be qualified, registered, and diligent for it to stand.” “Disasters occur when underqualified people take shortcuts or take on roles beyond their training,” he said.
Qs Kolawole reiterated NIQS Oyo State’s dedication to professional development, advocacy, and making sure that the state’s public and commercial projects are safe and cost-effective.
