Adedipe urges estate surveyors to build firms that survive beyond founders

Founder of B. Adedipe Associates Ltd. (BAA Consult) Prof. Biodun Adedipe, has urged professional firms to build resilient organisations that can continue to grow and perform even after their founders have left.

Adedipe made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Heads of Practice Assembly of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos State Branch, on Thursday in Lagos.

The assembly had the theme: “Leadership in Real Estate: Navigating 21st Century Challenges for Heads of Practice.”

Speaking on “Building Resilient Practices for the 21st Century: Beyond Founder and Leader,” Adedipe said professional practices should be structured to operate effectively and efficiently without depending solely on their founders.

According to him, organisations that outlive their founders are those with documented policies, clearly defined procedures, efficient business processes and disciplined workplace practices.

He said: “The goal is to build organisations that become stronger without the founder. Policies should not remain in the head of one person but should be properly documented.

“Procedures for carrying out tasks should also be clearly defined, while business processes must be be designed to deliver value to clients.

“Staff should understand their responsibilities and perform effectively even when the founder is absent.”

Adedipe said organisations that wished to remain relevant in the 21st century should have a clear vision that every employee understood and worked toward.

He said strategy, systems and people were the three pillars of a successful organisation, adding that businesses should invest in talent development, embrace collaboration and build strong systems that promote efficiency.

He also advised founders to separate their personal finances from company resources to enable businesses to retain funds for growth instead of relying heavily on borrowing.

Also speaking, the Managing Partner of Chris Davidson Advisory, Mr Babatunde Bamgboye, urged real estate professionals to embrace transformational leadership to address emerging challenges in the sector.

Speaking on “Transformational Leadership in Real Estate,” Bamgboye said advances in artificial intelligence and new technologies required estate surveyors and valuers to rethink how they operated their businesses.

He said innovations such as advanced composite building materials could reduce construction costs, improve energy efficiency and help tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit.

According to him, leadership is about managing people effectively, creating a shared vision and helping employees take ownership of their responsibilities.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr Kamar Olowosago, commended the NIESV Lagos State Branch for organising the assembly.

Olowosago said the programme provided an opportunity to learn and relearn, adding that the participation of the Lands Bureau’s leadership reflected the agency’s commitment to continuous learning and improving service delivery.

Earlier, Chairman of the NIESV Lagos State Branch, Mr Tosin Kadiri, said the Heads of Practice Assembly was organised to strengthen leadership capacity among real estate professionals.

Kadiri said the theme of the event reflected the need for practitioners to adapt to economic changes, regulatory developments and technological advancement.

He urged leaders in the profession to embrace innovation, leverage technology and build sustainable organisations to remain competitive.

The event was attended by chief executive officers, heads of practice, estate surveyors and valuers, as well as officials of the Lagos State Lands Bureau.