The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), FCT Unity Chapter, has began its 35th anniversary with renewed calls for greater public awareness of quantity surveying, stronger government regulation of construction projects and increased participation of women in the profession.
Speaking at the Media Outreach to commemorate the event, the chapter’s Chairman, QS Ahmed Usman Kankia FNIQS, said the celebration was an opportunity to reflect on the chapter’s achievements, explain the role of quantity surveyors and promote the profession’s contribution to national development.
Kankia clarified that quantity surveyors are different from land surveyors, explaining that quantity surveying is a professional discipline focused on the financial and contractual management of construction projects.
He said quantity surveyors are involved in cost estimation, project administration, contract monitoring and overall project delivery, helping clients achieve value for money.
According to him, quantity surveyors participate in projects from the early planning stages through completion.
Their responsibilities include preparing estimates and bills of quantities, managing costs, monitoring contracts and advising clients on ways to control expenditure without compromising quality.
He also highlighted the chapter’s efforts to engage young people through sporting activities and technical site visits. One of the visits was to the Nisa Prime Hospital in Mbora, where participants gained practical insight into construction processes and project execution.
Kankia further explained that becoming a registered quantity surveyor requires extensive professional training and assessment.
He cited the Test of Professional Competence, Professional Competence Interview and professional interviews as some of the stages candidates must complete before they can practise.
He called on the government to introduce policies making the engagement of quantity surveyors and the preparation of bills of quantities mandatory for project approvals and development control nationwide.
Such measures, he said, would improve cost management, strengthen accountability and reduce waste in public and private construction projects.
Also speaking, QS Mary Balagbobo FNIQS, WAQSN Representative for the NIQS FCT Chapter and National Social Secretary of Women in Construction in Nigeria, discussed the growing role of women in quantity surveying.
Gogo noted that the profession had traditionally been male-dominated but said more women were now entering the field, building successful careers and taking on important responsibilities in the construction industry.
She explained that female quantity surveyors were increasingly proving that they could combine professional demands with marital and family responsibilities.
She acknowledged the challenges women may face in the industry but stressed that female professionals were working effectively alongside their male counterparts as supportive and capable colleagues.
She encouraged young women to consider quantity surveying, describing it as a rewarding profession with diverse career opportunities.
According to Gogo, women in the profession can work in areas including cost engineering, material scheduling and procurement. These services help clients obtain materials at reasonable rates and make informed financial decisions throughout the life of a project.
In a similar vein, QS Uzoramaka Okobia MNIQS, an Ex-Officio ll, Senate Member of the NIQS FCT Chapter, described quantity surveying as a lucrative, practical and prudent career.
Okobia said quantity surveyors are involved from the inception of a contract until its completion, enabling them to provide continuous professional guidance on project costs and resources.
She said their expertise in cost engineering, material scheduling and procurement helps clients save money and achieve better project outcomes.
She urged more women to embrace the profession, stressing that quantity surveying offers opportunities for career advancement and financial independence.
With the right training and commitment, she said, women could thrive across several areas of the construction and built-environment sectors.
The anniversary celebration therefore served both as a commemoration of the NIQS FCT Chapter’s 35-year journey and as a platform to promote the relevance of quantity surveying, encourage youth participation and spotlight the expanding contribution of women to the profession.
