21st Kukoyi Memorial: Surveyors Upbeat Professional Excellence, Efficient Public Service, Highlight Nigeria’s Tax Reform Agenda

The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos State Branch, hosted the 21st edition of the Annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture, reaffirming the relevance of the late surveyor’s legacy in professional excellence, leadership and public service.

At the event held at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja on Wednesday January 21, the Chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the NIS, Surv. Adedeji Olanrewaju, FNIS, described the lecture series as a platform that has consistently addressed critical national issues, including leadership, good governance, integrity and socio-economic development.

He said, “This lecture series has remained relevant because it continues to interrogate issues that shape our society and professional practice.”

The NIS chairman while appreciating past lecturers and participants for sustaining the prestige of the annual event noted that the lecture which has lasted for over two decades, was established to honour the enduring contributions of Surv. Adekunle Kukoyi, a former President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors from 1973 to 1978 and a respected figure across several professional and public service spheres.

According to Olanrewaju, Kukoyi served as the pioneer President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), later becoming President of the Nigerian Institute of Management between 1991 and 1994. He added that the late surveyor was a director on the boards of several companies and institutions, contributed to sports administration in Nigeria, and was actively involved in community service through the Rotary Club.

In his remarks, the Lagos State Acting Surveyor-General, Surv. Olalekan Odupe, reaffirmed the Lagos State government’s commitment to supporting governance reforms through reliable geospatial infrastructure and professional excellence.

Odupe said the annual lecture remained a vital platform for policy dialogue and professional engagement.

He expressed confidence that discussions at the lecture would generate insights and perspectives capable of informing policy decisions, deepening collaboration among stakeholders and contributing meaningfully to the ongoing national reform agenda for the benefit of Nigerians.

The highlight of the event was the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Isaac Nwaogwugwu, Professor of Public Sector Economics at the University of Lagos and a renowned authority in tax theory and tax policy titled “Nigeria under the Grip of Tax Reform: Exploring the Politics, Economics and Geospatial Dimensions of the Acts.”

Professor Nwaogwugwu said the overarching objective of the Federal Government’s tax reforms was to streamline taxes, reduce multiple taxation and lower the cost of collection, while increasing overall revenue generation.

However, the Professor argued that the reforms had effectively eroded the middle class, calling on the government to inject more funds into the economy to enable micro, small, medium and middle-scale businesses to thrive.

According to him, the moral foundation of governance rests on justice and fairness, adding that only time would determine whether the implementation of the new tax policies would achieve those ideals.

As part of the event, awards were presented to students who participated in essay competitions at both tertiary and secondary school levels.

Dignitaries at the lecture included Mrs. Essie Kukoyi, surveyors from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, members of Women in Surveying, young surveyors and students.