The inauguration took place on November 6, 2026, at the LEED Platinum-certified AFREXIM African Trade Centre in Abuja, alongside the association’s 2026 Advocacy Day. The event brought together professionals and stakeholders in the built environment to discuss how technology and sustainable practices can improve the performance and lifespan of buildings and other critical assets.

Speaking at the event, IFMA Nigeria Chapter President, Engr. Sheriff Daramola, said the new branch would provide opportunities for professional training and certification, industry collaboration, student mentorship and networking among facility management practitioners in the Federal Capital Territory and the wider northern region.

Daramola noted that Abuja's concentration of important national infrastructure, including government offices, hospitals, educational institutions and airports, makes effective facility management essential to ensuring operational efficiency and protecting public investments.

Addressing the theme, Beyond Maintenance: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Facility Management Practice in Nigeria, he urged professionals to move beyond conventional maintenance approaches and embrace digital innovation, preventive maintenance and environmentally responsible practices.

He explained that sustainable facility management involves efficient energy and water use, proper waste management, responsible procurement, extending the lifespan of assets and maintaining safe and healthy indoor environments.

However, he stressed that solutions must take Nigeria's operating conditions into consideration, particularly energy supply challenges, infrastructure limitations and rising operational costs.

The IFMA president also called on government agencies, property owners, businesses, educational institutions and service providers to work with qualified facility management professionals in improving the planning, operation and maintenance of infrastructure.

Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore, the Director and Head of the Federal Public Assets Maintenance Department, Arch. Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna, said the Federal Government was promoting technology-based and preventive maintenance systems to improve the management of public assets.

She highlighted the ministry's efforts to introduce digital maintenance solutions and strengthen partnerships with professional organisations such as IFMA. According to her, these initiatives are expected to improve professional standards, build technical capacity and support policies that promote sustainable management of federal infrastructure.

Coordinator of the newly inaugurated Abuja Branch, Engr. (Dr.) Oluwaseun Yinka Alabi, FNSE, said the leadership would prioritise membership mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, professional development and strategic partnerships.

Alabi, who will work alongside Branch Coordinating Secretary Nnaemeka Samson Ebechidi and Branch Coordinating Treasurer Towobola Adefeegbe, said the team would establish the structures needed to build an inclusive and effective professional community in Abuja.

He added that the branch would engage relevant stakeholders and encourage greater participation among facility management professionals to strengthen the association's contribution to organisational performance and sustainable development.

The programme also recognised individuals who have contributed to the growth of facility management practice in Abuja. Engr. (Dr.) Samson Opaluwah received the IFMA Nigeria Lifetime Membership Award, while Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammed Usman and the late Collins Osayamwen, an IFMA Fellow, were also recognised.

Students studying built-environment disciplines at the University of Abuja participated in the event as part of efforts to encourage mentorship and introduce emerging professionals to developments in the facility management industry.

The Chairman of IFMA Nigeria's Board of Trustees and Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, was represented by the Olu of Olowo Town and former IFMA Nigeria President, HRM Oba (Engr.) Ebenezer O. Soetan, alongside ESV Abel Olawaye, FNIESV.

Participants also visited the African Medical Centre of Excellence and the AFREXIM African Trade Centre during facility tours organised as part of the inauguration and Advocacy Day.

The visits offered practical exposure to modern infrastructure management approaches, including energy performance optimisation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, smart sensors, Internet of Things applications and indoor air quality management.

The association said the activities demonstrated the growing importance of digital technology and sustainable building practices in improving facility performance, controlling operating costs and preserving the long-term value of infrastructure.

With the establishment of its Abuja Branch, IFMA Nigeria aims to expand professional engagement and strengthen the adoption of international facility management standards, while encouraging collaboration among practitioners, government institutions and other stakeholders.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia