AFM Practitioners of Nigeria: A game changer

In furtherance of efforts to develop and standardize the FM practice in Nigeria, a new indigenous professional body, ‘Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria’ (AFMPN) has been formed.

The objectives of the association include to represent the interests of all facility management practitioners in the industry and be the voice of Nigeria’s FM industry through advocacy with users and policy makers.

Others are to influence government policies related to infrastructure design, development and management, support professional development of members at all levels, work with the Nigeria’s FM industry regulatory body (when created) to ensure practitioners adhere to local and globally acceptable standards etc.

Whilst this body has been in the pipeline for some time, its emergence couldn’t have come at a better time as facility management practitioners grapple with issues of standardization and value they bring to their organizations and clients, particularly with the unprecedented situation of Covid-19 and its impact the built environment.

For a profession that is incredibly broad, encompassing building services management, workspace management, procurement and many more, this body has the opportunity to partner with existing international professional bodies such as IFMA and IWFM to help grow and strengthen the facility management profession and industry in Nigeria.

Recently, the ISO 41001 was adopted in Nigeria by the National Mirror Committee set up under the authority of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and promoting the ideals of this FM specific standard will be further enhanced by the activities of AFMPN.

The formation of this association will clearly help support the professional development of facility management practitioners at all levels by providing guidelines for the integration and coordination of various disciplines that provide services within the context of facility management.

For instance, we have existing professional associations for surveyors, architects, engineers etc that regulate the professional activities of its members and AFMPN will have to work with these professional bodies to find a common ground to create a framework that allows facility management to be recognized as critical, professional and strategic business discipline delivering compliance, standards and improved operations to create a better built environment.

It will also ensure sustainable development of the profession by working with institutions of higher learning in the country to promote learning and research on facility management. Furthermore, at a time when the labour market is struggling to find well qualified and competent FM professionals, the association can accomplish, develop and maintain domestic professional excellence through maintaining database of FM practitioners, organizing conferences and seminars to promote dissemination and exchange of knowledge amongst its members.

To the facility management practitioners, taking advantage of the association’s resources can help them earn and maintain a competitive edge in the discharge of their roles and responsibilities.

It is my belief that the emergence of this local association will lead to a well deserved recognition for the FM professionals in Nigeria.