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The international real estate research community mourns the loss of one our leaders. Akin Olawore represented the best of what our organization was created to achieve: encouraging communication, cooperation, and coordination of real estate research and education on a worldwide basis.
Akin took on our mission as his own. He played a vital role within the African Real Estate Society and assisted with its integration and recognition among its global sister societies. His efforts were recognized with the IRES Service Award in 2011. However, Akin’s work was not confined to Africa. He was elected President of IRES in 2013 to lead the global association of six sister societies.

During his years on the IRES Board of Directors and as President, Akin was a voice of reason and compromise. A true diplomat, he represented all the societies with equal consideration and concern. He emphasized the need for the Latin American and African societies to mature and become equal working partners with the older, more established organizations. He also explored the potential for the creation of a Middle East North African Real Estate Society.
A truly global citizen, Akin developed bonds and friendships on all the continents amongst academics and professionals. We appreciate how much he shared of himself with us. He will be sorely missed.

On behalf of the Officers and Board of Directors,

Part of the mission of the International Real Estate Society (IRES) is to encourage communication, co-operation, and co-ordination regarding real estate research and education on a world-wide basis as well as to encourage research on international real estate topics. Thus, among its core activities is to encourage advancement of knowledge through research and the sharing of that knowledge with peers, students and the public.

Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. As such, IRES recognizes the importance of the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic freedom, intellectual freedom, and freedom of expression gives one the right and obligation as a scholar to question assumptions, challenge conventional wisdom, rigorously examine data, and share the conclusions. The freedom to explore significant and controversial questions is essential to fulfill the mission of educating students and advancing knowledge.

Academic freedom also comes with responsibilities. Communal inquiry and debate are at the heart of the academy. Researchers should be accurate and should show respect for the opinions of others. Academic responsibility requires researchers to submit their results to rigorous and public review by peers who are experts in the same field and to ground their arguments in the best available evidence.

The advancement of knowledge through research requires that scholars be able to pursue their work uninhibited by fear of offending outside forces. Scholars require the freedom to pursue their ideas wherever they lead, unconstrained by the beliefs of politicians, administrators or members of the public.