The Journey of a Facility Management Professional
Felix Oluwalomola is an electrical technologist, sustainability professional, and facilities manager who oversees facilities across Africa. His career in facility management has been shaped by a deep understanding of the built environment and a commitment to ensuring that buildings operate efficiently and safely.
A Career Born from Opportunity
Oluwalomola’s journey into facility management began during his undergraduate studies when he obtained a trade test certificate in electrical installation. A friend recommended that he submit his CV to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Ikoyi, where he connected with a facility management company seeking electrical technicians. After an interview, he was offered a position that sparked his interest in the field. As he worked in this role, he became fascinated by the scope and impact of facility management, which inspired him to pursue it as a long-term career.
Understanding the Role of a Facility Manager
Facility managers differ from real estate managers in their responsibilities. While real estate managers focus on lease negotiations, property acquisitions, and asset valuation, facility managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations, functionality, and upkeep of buildings or facilities. Their goal is to ensure that the environment operates efficiently and safely for staff, tenants, and visitors. This includes overseeing critical systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, cleaning, security, and health and safety compliance.
To succeed as a facility manager, certain skills are essential. These include knowledge of building systems, vendor and contract management, budgeting and cost control, strategic planning, report writing, strong communication, customer service orientation, team leadership, problem-solving, proficiency in computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), and an understanding of health, safety, and environment (HSE) practices.
Beyond Building Management
Facility management is not limited to building management. It encompasses both soft and hard services. Soft services include non-technical functions such as cleaning, landscaping, security, pest control, catering, waste management, and office space planning. Hard services involve the physical and technical infrastructure of the building, including electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, fire detection systems, elevators, and building fabric.
Facility managers ensure all these services are delivered efficiently and in compliance with local building codes and organizational standards.
Managing Properties Across Different Locations
Managing properties across different locations requires proper planning and strategic execution. Oluwalomola emphasizes the importance of having an in-depth knowledge of the facilities being managed. He notes that the facilities he oversees have been performing optimally since project completion.
Facility Management for All Communities
Facility management services are not exclusive to elite, government, or corporate entities. Property owners with functioning electrical or water systems require facility managers to oversee technicians, coordinate with vendors, and ensure efficient operation. In rural or low-income communities, a full-time facility manager may not be necessary, but a part-time or visiting manager can conduct scheduled inspections, coordinate preventive maintenance, and address system failures as needed.
Educating Property Owners
Many Nigerians do not understand the importance of regular professional maintenance. Oluwalomola believes that public enlightenment is crucial to changing this mindset. Property owners should be encouraged to engage qualified facility management professionals to ensure their assets operate at optimal performance.
Revamping Old and Abandoned Buildings
If appointed as a facility manager for Lagos State’s old and abandoned buildings, Oluwalomola would approach the task through a multi-phase process. This would include site assessments, feasibility studies, planning, team mobilisation, execution, testing, and establishing a post-renovation facility management plan. A preventive maintenance schedule and a CMMS would be implemented to manage work orders and asset tracking.
Recommended Laws and Policies
Oluwalomola recommends that the government enforce laws mandating the hiring of facility managers for public and private buildings above a certain size. Building maintenance laws should be enforced with relevant penalties for neglect. This would help ensure the safety and longevity of buildings.
Education and Curriculum Development
Currently, only the University of Lagos offers a Master’s in Facility Management. Other universities offer it as an elective. Oluwalomola suggests that universities should include facility management in their degree programs at BSc, PGD, and MSc levels. Courses such as introduction to facility management, building systems, preventive maintenance, sustainability, health and safety, real estate management, and project management should be included in the curriculum.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Facility managers in Nigeria face challenges such as poor infrastructure, lack of as-built drawings, and inadequate budgets. Oluwalomola believes that facility managers should be involved during the design and construction stages, and adequate budgets should be allocated for maintenance. Industry advocacy for building maintenance legislation and its enforcement is also essential.
In five years, Oluwalomola expects the facility management industry in Nigeria to grow, with increased awareness and engagement of facility management companies and individuals.
Mentorship and Community Engagement
Although Oluwalomola does not currently have a platform or mentorship program, young people can reach out to him on LinkedIn or join the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria Chapter, to connect with professionals in the field.