MKO Balogun is the managing director of Global PFI Limited, a leading facilities management company in the country. In this interview with Tola Alakofa, he appraised the industry and explained the recent change in the company’s name. He also gave deep insight into the winning culture of the company among other issues.
Can you give us a bit of background on the creation of Global PFI Limited and its milestones?
Global PFI Limited, formerly WSP-FMC Nigeria Limited, was incorporated in August 21, 2000, as the first facilities management company in Nigeria. It was then called FMC Nigeria Ltd., before it became part of WSP Group Plc., a global engineering, consulting, design, project management business that support the property and construction sector in over 100 countries of the world.
In February 2012, WSP-FMC Nigeria Limited integrated the business of Domme Facilities Management Limited, another leading Nigerian facilities management company, to strengthen the company’s capability in the local market.
In 2012, WSP-FMC was voted as the best facilities management company in Nigeria.
In 2013, the WSP, through a global restructuring programme decided to divested its interest in Facilities Management from the fully owned subsidiary in South Africa and Nigeria, leading to the change of the name to Global Properties & Facilities International Company and the company is expected to operate in Nigeria and West Africa.
Tell us in details, the range of services you provide
At Global PFI Limited, we provide world-class integrated Building Maintenance and Management Services, Infrastructure Management and Property Management. Our Infrastructure Management division supports small and large-scale infrastructure projects across all sectors. Our Property Management division utilises a combination of innovative methods to optimise and manage client’s properties, while our Integrated Facilities Management division focuses on maintaining client’s facilities to deliver value for money.
You were voted the best facility management company in Nigeria in 2012. How have you managed to remain the facility management company of choice for individuals and organisations?
First of all, we believe our expertise, professional skills, industry experience and good knowledge of local market are very important in remaining the FM Company of choice in the country. Also, we will also like to state that we have strong relationship with industry suppliers and consistently offer quality services to clients. We also recognise the fact that the facilities management needs of clients are not the same, so we tailor our services to the specific needs of individual or organization. We are customer focus.
The need to preserve the environment and improve public health is rapidly increasing interest in environmentally facility management services. How is your organisation responding to this?
At Global PFI Limited, we believe we have a responsibility to do everything we can to minimise our impact on the planet and reduce our carbon footprint. We strive to achieve this by focusing on energy efficient building management practices, appropriate use of chemicals and by encouraging all the organisations we work with to go green.
On health and safety issues at workplace, we ensure that all our employees are competent and equipped to undertake all of their work activities without risk to safety or health through the provision of adequate information, effective instruction, training and supervision. We also review and investigate all reported incidents and near misses.
Your company is regarded as one of the leading facility management companies in the country. Tell us some of the clients you service?
We provide integrated services to many companies in different sectors across the country. Our clients include: MTN, General Electric, Safe Trust, Landmark Property Development, Union Homes, TetraPak, Safe Trust Property Development, IBTC Courts, CITI Bank, and lots more.
How would you assess the health of the facility management industry in the country?
The industry is gradually achieving the desired recognition in the country with both private and public sector organisations engaging the services of FM leading to focus on enhancing asset value and assets utilisation. Companies are outsourcing their FM services more than ever before, government institutions are also setting up department of FM, like the FCT and Lagos. The industry has also witnessed the entrance of foreign FM companies in recent times, which will create healthy competition and ultimately ensure customers get value.
What are the main problems facing the industry?
Some of the problems facing the industry include lack of legislation, skills gap, cost focus rather than value focus, lack of industry standards and lack of proper procurement procedure.
MD/CEO’s Profile
MKO Balogun holds an MBA from the prestigious Lagos Business School of Pan Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, B.Eng.(Hons) from Federal University of Technology, Owerri. He started his Ph.D. degree in Entrepreneurship in 2012 at Walden University, US, in December 2012 and was honoured with a Ph.D. in Management by Belize University, Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
Prior to establishing Domme FM Ltd., a company he started with his project colleagues from an MBA project, he worked in different management positions in top organisations such as UACN, CFAO, Bemil Security Services and Leventis Motors, where he introduced the Volkswagen Trucks.
He holds the prestigious Certified Facilities Manager CFM qualification and is a member of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, and Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Training and Development, Nigeria Institute of Management, Fellow of Institute of Direct Marketing and Fellow of Institute of Administration.
