Expert Champions Ethical Procurement, Sustainable Growth

The just-concluded IFMA Global Africa Conference 2025, held in Lagos, brought together facility management leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent in a groundbreaking dialogue on the industry’s future.

Among the standout voices at the event was David O. Korede, CEO of Bloom FM, one of Nigeria’s leading facility management companies, who delivered an insightful session on ethical procurement and bidding practices in the Nigerian FM sector.

Korede emphasised that ethics and transparency remain the cornerstone of trust-building and sustainable industry growth. He warned against the dangers of unethical bidding practices, which often undermine service quality, discourage innovation, and damage the credibility of both vendors and clients.

He said, “To progress in facility management, procurement must move beyond the lowest-cost-wins mindset for Nigeria and Africa. We must champion integrity, fairness, and value-driven partnerships.”

Bloom FM, under his leadership, has distinguished itself in the Nigerian FM space by combining sustainability, innovation, and best practices to deliver world-class facility solutions. The company continues to lead conversations on maintenance culture, energy efficiency, and the role of technology in transforming the industry.

Other conference highlights included a powerful keynote from Babatunde Raji Fashola, the former minister of Works, Power & Housing, who underscored the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s maintenance culture and ‘getting the work done.’

Delegates also discussed the importance of cross-border collaboration, education and skills development, and integrating renewable energy and innovative digital systems into facility management.

Korede’s contribution at the fireside chat was particularly well-received. He presented a concrete, actionable solution to bidding challenges in Nigeria — a model that blends ethical screening, vendor capacity building, and transparent evaluation frameworks. His vision for the FM industry resonated with stakeholders across Africa who share the same challenges and aspirations.

The conference, convened by IFMA Global and the IFMA Lagos Chapter, was made possible through the tireless work of volunteers, partners, and sponsors. It reinforced the growing recognition that facility management is central to Africa’s development agenda, driving efficiency, sustainability, and economic growth.