BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU, KSM
Former Mayor of Owerri, Hon. (Dr.) Chijioke D.B. Williams, KSM, alongside four other members of the Imo State Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), has been elevated to the prestigious College of Fellows of the institution.
The quintet was among the 300 professionals inducted as Fellows of the NIESV at a ceremony held in Abuja, marking the attainment of the highest cadre in the estate surveying and valuation profession.
A congratulatory statement issued by the Imo State Branch of the NIESV confirmed that its Chairman, ESV (Dr.) Jovita N. Nnametu, FNIVS, was also among the inductees. Others elevated from the branch include ESV (Prof.) Chibueze Achimba Ogbonna, FNIVS; ESV Theosophine C. Emmanuel, FNIVS; and ESV Umerah George Amechi, FNIVS.
The 2026 induction ceremony into the College of Fellows took place on Thursday, February 5, at the Los Angeles Event Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Abuja, under the auspices of the President and Chairman of Council of the NIESV, ESV (Dr.) Victor Alonge(FNIVS). The event attracted senior government officials, traditional rulers, industry leaders and other stakeholders in the built environment with one of Nigeria’s traditional rulers Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife also receiving an Honourary Fellow award.
In his welcome address, Alonge described the ceremony as a defining moment for the institution, noting that both the calibre and number of inductees reflected renewed confidence in the profession and its leadership.
Speaking with our correspondent after his induction, Williams who has a knack for quality both in profession and other spheres of life described the fellowship as the pinnacle of professional achievement in estate surveying and valuation, stressing that it comes with heightened responsibility and public trust.
“This is the peak of our profession. It positions one not just as a consultant, but as a practitioner who has attained the highest level of professional competence,” he said.
Former Mayor of Owerri, Hon. (Dr.) Chijioke D.B. Williams, KSM
He added that professional standing at such a level significantly enhances client confidence and expectations. “When clients know they are dealing with a Fellow of the NIESV, they are reassured that they are engaging someone who has reached the summit of professional practice,” Williams explained.
Drawing a comparison with the legal profession, Williams noted that attaining fellowship status in the NIESV is equivalent to becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a distinction that carries both prestige and responsibility.
Commenting on the broader implications of the honour, particularly in politics and governance, Williams—an active member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s flag bearer for Owerri Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections—emphasised that politics should not be treated as a profession.
“Politics is not a profession, but it demands specialised knowledge, skills and training,” he said. “Attaining the fellowship distinguishes one as a professional with proven capacity, and it shows that such an individual brings value, discipline and expertise into governance.”
He concluded that professional pedigree enhances credibility in public life, noting that “when one is introduced to the public with such credentials, it carries weight and inspires confidence.”
Founded in 1969, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has continued to set high standards for professional conduct and practice in the landed profession, positioning Nigerian practitioners to compete effectively within global best practices