Knight Frank Nigeria, a real estate consultants company, has called on members of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) to consider forming a formidable and sustainable partnership structure in order to create one of the biggest town planning firms in Nigeria and Africa.
Senior Partner, Knight Frank Nigeria, Mr Frank Okosun gave the advice while sharing insight on ‘Sustainability of Partnership as a Business Model for Town Planning Firms in Nigeria’ during ATOPCON’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos.
The Knight Frank team collaborated to make an impact by sharing their knowledge, edge and experience in partnership as a business model at the forum. The company was also awarded an honourary award by the ATOPCON represented by the company’s Associate Partner, Mr Tope Fasunloro.
Okosun gave insights on how the firm commitment to partnership for the past 125 years has worked in building Knight Frank Nigeria as the property partner to appreciate.
Okosun noted that the nation is being confronted by many challenges, but that only strong professional firms with necessary capabilities would be able to provide solutions.
Citing Knight Frank Nigeria as an example, Okosun said the company has grown to the extent that it currently has over 200 partners and is currently visible in 466 offices across the globe, with over 300 clients and over N500 billion worth of real estate assets under its management.
“We couldn’t have achieved all our successes without a formidable and sustainable partnership structure,” he said
According to Okosun, partnership is very useful for growth in professional services like town planning, advising that selection of partners should not be based on friendship or family ties, but be based on competence, character, chemistry and the ability for the person to be committed.
The Knight Frank Nigeria’s senior partner urged them to select the partnership type that works for them or their situation, adding that it has become imperative to ensure they have the right legal structure, transparent accounting procedures, division of responsibilities and a clear succession plan /path in place.
“Partnerships are not a magical formula for business growth; it takes discipline and willingness to be accountable to other partners,” Okosun said.