Knight Frank pledges to develop real estate professionals

Knight Frank Nigeria, an independent global property consultancy company, has stated its commitment to nurturing future leaders in the real estate industry.

The Senior Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Knight Frank Nigeria, Mr Frank Okosun, stated this at the graduation ceremony of 16 professionals from Cohort 2 of the Knight Frank Academy on Thursday in Lagos, a statement said.

Okosun, said, “Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of 16 talented young professionals who have completed two months of intensive training at our academy, followed by two months of internships at leading real estate firms. This brings the total number of our trained graduates to 33, all of whom are well-prepared to make valuable contributions to the industry.”

He acknowledged the collaboration and support of key industry institutions, such as the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, the International Facility Management Association, and the International Real Estate Federation.

He disclosed that FIABCI-Nigeria offered fully paid memberships to the entire graduating cohort, emphasising the importance of building professional networks early in their careers.

“We are grateful to our industry partners for recognising the value of this initiative and for their unwavering support. These young professionals are now well-equipped to pursue further certifications and contribute to the growth of real estate practice in Nigeria,” Okosun added.

Also, the President of NIESV, Mr Victor Alonge, commended Knight Frank’s vision, stating that the academy was key to the future of the profession.

“This initiative is a forward-thinking approach to upskilling the next generation of estate professionals. Knight Frank is setting a standard that other firms should emulate,” he noted.

The NIESV president added that the institution was committed to deepening its collaboration with Knight Frank Academy by reviewing the curriculum and awarding relevant continuous professional development points to the graduates.

 On her part, the Head of Human Resources and Administration, at Knight Frank Academy, Mrs Toyin Lasaki, stated, “We enriched the curriculum, extended the internship period, and engaged new facilitators to provide a more robust learning experience.”

Lasaki explained that the collaboration with renowned firms like Olawale Jordan Company and Paul Osaji & Co. was instrumental in giving the interns practical, hands-on experience.

“The Knight Frank Academy looks forward to welcoming its third cohort next year, continuing its mission to develop world-class talent for Nigeria’s real estate sector,” she added.