Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has faulted the non-accreditation of surveying and geoinformatics programmes in Nigerian universities and polytechnics across the federation, resulting in acute shortages of surveyors in the country.
The national president of NIS, Matthew Olomolatan Ibitoye, expressed his displeasure at the 58th Edo Annual General Meeting and Conference held in Benin.
He said in Nigeria, approximately 33 universities and 34 polytechnics exist, but only a few have the manpower to train surveyors, which has negatively affected the profession.
“I wish to highlight the urgent need for investment in our educational institutions that train surveying and geoinformatics professionals.
“Currently, these institutions have a shortage of qualified and adequate lecturers, resulting in a poor lecturer-student ratio.
“This, along with other factors such as lack of adequate modern equipment and a poor teaching environment, often contributes to the non-accreditation of surveying and geoinformatics programmes in most institutions.
“Current statistics show that we have approximately 33 universities and 34 polytechnics offering surveying programmes in Nigeria but fewer lecturers, indicating a dire situation,” Ibitoye said.
Ibitoye urged the federal government to urgently intervene and recruit more lecturers to man these learning institutions so that the wide gaps could be bridged.
The national president of NIS, while observing that Nigerians are leaving the country in droves, appealed to the federal government to look inward and see how the issue could be addressed in the shortest possible time.
The president called on the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki to help upgrade the Edo State survey department to an extra ministerial status and to be named the office of the Survey General of Edo State which should be likened to its counterparts in Ogun, Lagos and other states presently.
Declaring the 58th Edo Annual General Meeting and Conference open in Benin, the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, represented by his deputy, Engr. Godwins Omobayo welcomed the association to the state and wished them peaceful deliberations.
The governor assured them that the issue of upgrading the Edo State survey department to an extra-ministerial status would be addressed.
