‘No Major Project Can Happen Without Us’ – Oyo NIQS Chairman Speaks On Role of Quantity Surveyors, Building Collapses
•By Oyeniyi Awojoodu
IBADAN – THE Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Oyo State chapter, QOS Oluwole Kolawole, has called for greater public awareness about the crucial role of Quantity Surveyors in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Kolawole, who has over 30 years of professional experience and began his tenure as Chairman in 2024, explained that many people often confuse Quantity Surveyors with Land Surveyors.
He noted that while Land Surveyors focus on land boundaries and mapping, and Estate Surveyors handle land management and valuation, Quantity Surveyors specialise in cost management for construction projects.
“Before any project is executed, whether a building, airport, seaport, railway, or refinery, the cost must be determined. As the Bible says in Luke 14:28: ‘Who among you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?’ That is exactly what we do. No major project, government or private, can happen without us,” Kolawole said.
On the low level of public awareness about the profession, he admitted that many students come into Quantity Surveying by accident, often after failing to secure admission into Civil Engineering or Architecture.
He urged parents and guardians to encourage young people to embrace the field, stressing that it offers strong career opportunities in academia, banking, government ministries, contracting firms, and private consultancy.
Kolawole further highlighted that the profession is well-regulated through the NIQS, which handles examinations and professional membership, and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), which oversees licensing and practice standards.
He added that registered professionals can easily be verified online, helping to curb quackery in the industry.
On the persistent issue of building collapses in Nigeria, Kolawole identified multiple causes, including structural failures, quacks handling specialised roles, inadequate supervision, use of substandard materials, and negligence by regulatory authorities.
He stressed that construction is a team process requiring architects, engineers, builders, and quantity surveyors to work within their areas of expertise.
“For a building to stand, every professional involved must be qualified, registered, and diligent. When unqualified individuals cut corners or assume roles outside their training, disasters happen,” he warned.
Kolawole reaffirmed NIQS Oyo State’s commitment to advocacy, professional training, and ensuring that both government and private projects in the state achieve value for money and are executed safely.