Estate Department, UNILAG & Knight Frank Nigeria Celebrate Academic Excellence

In a double celebration of academic excellence, the Department of Estate Management at University of Lagos and Knight Frank Nigeria jointly honoured outstanding students for academic and professional achievements at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences Boardroom on Friday, May 30, 2025.

NIESV National Quiz Champions

The Department of Estate Management proudly celebrated its victorious representatives, Mr. David Adetunji and Mr. Arthur Ben Iborobong, who emerged champions of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) 2024 Quiz Competition. This competition took place during the 55^th Annual NIESV Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held from May 5 to May 10, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

Competing against ten (10) institutions in the Southwest Region and five (5) at the national finals, Adetunji and Iborobong along with their colleagues (Chibuzor Chinemerem, Isaiah Ebuka and Ehiz Odigie) secured an impressive win.

Welcoming the champions, the Head of Department, Prof. Akintade Afolayan, appreciated the students and staff advisers for making the Department, Faculty and University proud.

Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Modupe Omirin, and Dr. Uyi Osagie, the students’ staff adviser, commended their relentless dedication and the department’s tradition of excellence. Prof. Omirin gave credence to this by highlighting that the department has consistently maintained top three (3) positions over the past seven (7) years. She asserted that “this is a very good indication that our students are single-minded, focused, hardworking, and it won’t be so without the wonderful inputs of the lecturers.”

Professor Omirin thus charged the students to keep maintaining the spirit of excellence, and expressed hopes that other students would keep up the tradition in the Faculty.

The Winners flanked by Prof. Koleosho, Prof. Afolayan and Dr. Osagie

The Sub-Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Olajide Faremi, while congratulating the winners, urged them to keep up the good work and not rest on their oars. He then gifted them cash prizes.

The event concluded with goodwill messages from esteemed faculty members, including the Head, Department of Building, Prof. John Ameh; Prof. Hikmat Koleosho, Dr. O. B. A Idowu, and Dr. Patricia Kukoyi of the Department of Estate Management; Dr. Olajide Faremi, Sub-Dean of the Faculty; and Prof. Tunde Oladokun, a UNILAG alumnus and lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The celebration rounded off with Mr. David Adetunji on behalf of himself and his co-champion, thanking the Department lecturers and students for their support throughout the competition. He noted that “the support was immense. The win is for everyone”.

Knight Frank Nigeria Rewards Outstanding Students

The event transitioned into an awards ceremony by Knight Frank Nigeria, marking the firm’s 60^th anniversary with bursaries and internships for top 400-level students of the Department of Estate Management, UNILAG: Omolara Ajikanle, Oyindamola Fawunmi, and Olabimpe Egunjobi.

L-R: Prof. Omirin, Miss Fawunmi, Mr. Okosun, Miss Egunjobi, Prof. Afolayan and Miss Ajikanle

Prof. Omirin, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, praised Knight Frank Nigeria for its thoughtful gesture in honouring UNILAG’s top-performing 400-level students. She noted that the recognition was an extremely dear gesture appreciated by the University.

Mr. Frank Okosun, Senior Partner/CEO, Knight Frank Nigeria, revealed that the firm’s initiative was aimed at rewarding students demonstrating exceptional academic performance, discipline, and leadership qualities with internship placements and a bursary award covering their final-year obligatory fees. The three outstanding students have, in fact, already commenced their internship programmes at the firm.

Elaborating on other impact-driven activities of the organisation, Mr. Okosun made mention of the Knight Frank Academy, an academy established five years ago, to identify, train, and develop young graduates who desire to build a career in the real estate industry.

Miss Omolara Ajikanle, one of the top performers, spoke on behalf of the recipients, expressing gratitude and extended heartfelt appreciation to the department and the firm for their unwavering support.

In her closing remarks, Prof. Omirin emphasized the significance of the event in inspiring academic excellence, reaffirming that the selected students have, over time, demonstrated commendable character and leadership qualities, and trusts that they will go on to shape the industry. In addition, Prof. Afolayan, the Head of Department, urged the firm to remember the department and faculty in its future CSR initiatives.

Knight Frank Nigeria was founded in Nigeria in June 1965, with its headquarters in Lagos. Knight Frank Nigeria is part of Knight Frank LLP, the world’s largest independent residential and commercial property consultancy.