Masterbill Features at the NIQS Conference in Calabar, Nigeria

The Biennial Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) is an important national forum to advance the role of Quantity Surveying in National Development and Masterbill were pleased to be a part of this event.

Our Nigerian Agent reports....

This year’s conference was held in Calabar Cross River State of Nigeria and termed ‘TINAPA 2006’. It was so christened in order to showcase the first and largest business resort in Africa sited in Calabar and under construction.

 

 The project is in phases and the first phase which is to be commissioned in January 2007 consists of:

• A four unit shopping mall called ‘Emporia’ of 10, 000m2 each
• 52 Units line shops
• Entertainment centre consisting of Casinos, Restaurants, Cinemas and Games Arcade.
• A fisherman’s village consisting of Bars, Nightclubs, Arts and Crafts complex.
•     A 300 bed 3 star hotel complex
•     4 No warehouses
•     Leisure land comprising a lazy river, picnic area, wave pool among others
•     Lake dredging
•     Independent power supply

The Theme of the Conference ” QUANTITY SURVEYING IN THE 21ST CENTURY - AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE” focused on future role of Quantity Surveyors as project finance economists, project and contract interpretation and administration professional, including the nature of quantity surveying as a profession concerned with financial probity in the conceptualization planning and execution of development project and the specific areas of the Quantity Surveyors development and training on the current and future core-competence.

 

 These included:

• Value Engineering
• eMeasurement & Bid documentation
• Earned Value Management
•  Constructability Analysis
•  Budgeting and Budget Analysis for Government Fiscal Policies.
• Project Control Studies
• Cost Estimating & Control of engineering projects
• Economic Analysis of Project Procurement Methods
• Planning & Scheduling

Some of the papers presented at the conference included the following:

•     The Quantity Surveyors role in the 21st Century hospitality industry – The Tinapa Experience.
•     21st Century measurements in Bid documentation
•     Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as agent of economic development
•     FIG commission 10 - Impact of the Quantity Surveyor
•     The Quantity Surveyor and Road Map for the future
•     The 21st century Quantity Surveyor and University education
•     New opportunities for Quantity Surveyors in Nigerian business environment
•     The Quantity Surveyors in highway development
•     Project control mechanism of engineering projects in a developing economy
•     Due process initiative in contract award.
•     The roles of the professional Quantity Surveyor in Dispute Resolution
•     Overview of the Quantity Surveyors role in Engineering Infrastructure
•     Project management of Hospitality and Tourism development – Tinapa experience

The conference was an international conference as sub regional meetings of the following organisations were also held simultaneously during the conference.

• The International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) Region 3 meeting was held on the 2nd day of the conference.
• The regional meeting of FIG - Commission 10 was also held on the 3rd day of the conference.
• The Regional meeting of the Association of African Quantity Surveyors was also held on the 3rd day of the conference.

In total the conference attracted over 500 participants from all over the continent.

Masterbill had a stand to display and demonstrate their software at the conference venue. This attracted a lot of participants which resulted in many enquiries.