The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Nigeria Chapter has taken its strategic collaboration to another height through the creation of employment opportunities for 40 graduating students of various Government Technical Colleges in Lagos State. The initiative is in partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

Titled “Graduating to Employment: The Opportunity to Excel”, was held on Thursday 11th August, 2022 at the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos where all the graduating students had an engagement session with the stakeholders.

Four corporate members of the association – Alpha Mead Facilities Limited, Provast, Meditrack Ltd, and Specific Tools and Techniques Limited – granted employment to the students.

In his opening remarks, IFMA Nigeria President, Mr Segun Adebayo expressed his delight that the maiden edition of the engagement session with graduating students of the various technical colleges in Lagos had become a reality.

According to him, “when we conceived the idea of supporting students of the technical schools, we know it is the way of supporting the future of the built industry as artisans and technicians are very crucial to making business sustainable. During the 25th anniversary of the association, we started the mentorship programme for the technical students. We equipped the students with toolboxes, safety jackets, and safety helmets as their discipline of learning fall within the facility management industry. The students were promised employment upon completion of their education and this has come into fulfilment”.

While appreciating IFMA Nigeria, LASTVEB Executive Secretary, Ms Moronke Azeez appreciated the association for taking the work being done by the technical colleges to the next level by getting their graduates gainful employment.

She said: “We are applauding the initiative of IFMA Nigeria chapter, which has changed the fate of our graduating students as they are getting employed immediately after completing their programme. We urge all our graduating students to be great ambassadors of LASTVEB in their respective places of work”.

While appreciating IFMA Nigeria, LASTVEB and the organisations that allowed them to begin their respective careers, one of the graduating students, Mr Joshua Koleola said that his decision to attend the technical college has paid off with the employment opportunity upon completion of examinations. He was sure that the beneficiaries would gain the requisite experience to make them successful in life.

The programme’s faculty included the Managing Director, Synced Integrated Services Limited, Mr Donald George; Managing Director of Jagun Associates, who is the first IFMA Fellow in Africa, Mr Stephen Jagun.

Papers were delivered on “Leadership and Productivity in the Workplace”, and “The Importance of Ethics and Moral Behaviour in Career Development”.

IFMA Nigeria has continued to be a forward-looking association committed to providing impactful leadership in the facility management space through sustainable initiatives and value-driven collaboration.