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COMMITTED TOGETHER, WE CAN EMPOWER OURSELVES!
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| Engr Funmilade Akingbagbohun FNIMechE |
I give Special appreciation to Almighty God who owes us nothing but we owe Him everything. I feel highly honoured to have served for one year as the chief servant NIMechE Lagos while carrying on the great works of our past leaders.
Our success during the year had been variously commended by our elders and members at large. We have moved a milestone in our journey toward advancing the welfare of Mechanical Engineers. However, in achieving all these, we owe our founding leaders tremendous gratitude for laying solid foundation for the chapter and nurturing us to to build on it. The roles of High Chief Engr Tunde Zedomi, the pioneer National Chairman, Engr Ayo Fanimokun, the first Lagos chairman, Engr Jubril Adeyemo, Engr Amos Komolafe all of whom preceded me are worth appreciating.
I will not forget the pillars that have supported us all these while, since our founding: The corporate sector, (both public and private) spread across the industry, as one working toward common goal, we have made the NIMechE Lagos stand tall and keep the wheel of engineering moving. It to your credit that we have all gone this far, it is through your supports that we been able to achieve our goals. On behalf of the institution, I say, thank you very much to the commissioner For works and infrastructure Engr Ganiyu Johnson FNSE, Toyota Nig Ltd, Engr braimah Ogunwale FNSE FNIMECHE, Engr Ganiyu Owolabi FNSE FNIMECHE, vehicle inspection directorate, Engr Toriola FNSE FNIMECHE, Engr Chuks iluno FNSE FNIMECHE, Tricontinental etc for your supports throughout this year.
This journey is a collective, and the glory of our institution is collective aspiration, as NIMechE belongs to all of us. We, the executive are only stewards, entrusted to navigate the ship and make you proud. Therefore, we must continue to work together until we have shown the world that Nigerian Mechanical Engineers are not just on the engineering map but also making the country proud.
At the beginning of the year, we made EMPOWERMENT our theme so far we have made tremendous progress in ensuring that all categories of our of members are empowered by the various programs embarked upon in the last nine months that we took over the leadership.
The economic slowdown in the country due to the drop in global oil prices has affected manufacturing sector and by extension engineering activities. And since our members constitute the heart of production in these industries, majority of them (employers and employees) are affected. We have opened up partnership with manufacturing firms like Unilever, Toyota, tricontinental, Folawiyo Energy, Cakasa and other stakeholders which have helped in encouraging some of our members in the face of the economic challenges.
Nothing worries us more today than the challenges of unemployment and lack of opportunities for our young engineers. What is more, many of them are unable to acquire practical experiences after graduation. It is a national challenge, but due to the concentration of the bulk of engineers in Lagos, and due to its economic importance, we arranged internship for our Graduate members and would like to use this opportunity to appreciate Global facilities and properties for the one week Field training , Cakasa, Engr. Paul Ajisafe FNIMECHE etc for their participation in the internship program. We are opened to further collaboration with more companies.
I would love to make a special mention of Toyota Nigeria Limited under the leadership of Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo for their commitment to Engineering education. The Managing Director, who is also a mechanical engineering graduate, supported tertiary institutions across the country as the company donated 10m worth of automobile equipment. Some of the institutions were present to receive on behalf of their departments.
We have existing robust relationship with the academic community. We have invested heavily in our young engineers and have been consistently supporting them through the National Students Forum, NSF. We are looking forward to open up more collaborations between practicing engineers and the academic community.
NIMechE takes pride in the reality that majority of our members are from Civil Services. We maintained a robust relationship with agencies of Lagos State Civil Services, such as Lagos Traffic FM, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Services, Lagos State Ministry of Works, Lagos State, Federal Road Services Corps, Federal Industrial Research Oshodi. We also maintained very good relationship with private companies from various sectors of the industry.
We had various industrial visits within the year with Oando, Wampco Friesland Campina, Unilever, to help enlighten our members.
As a form of corporate social responsibility, we reached out to Red cross society orphanage center.
We have created a whole week for the Mechanical Engineers in Lagos to further enhance our harmony, Networking and productivity. The engineering week encompasses all the categories of Mechanical Engineers in Lagos and the activities for the week has been carefully designed to empower all the various categories.
While me and my team, under your mandate have worked tirelessly tirelessly move Lagos Chapter forward, I must say, we couldn’t have done it alone without your support. NIMechE survive on the generosity and commitment of members like you and I.I want to sincerely appreciate those who pay their annual dues, donate for our cause, support or sponsor our programmes in any way, however little, attended our monthly meetings as well as organised events.
Let me close with this parting words, NIMechE belongs to you, we are just stewards entrusted to pilot its affairs, if we are committed together, we can make this institution a dynamic family where we all shall be proud of. Committed together, we can show the world that engineers are more than capable and innovative enough to change their world.
Thank you all for the privilege and honour to serve the institution.
Committed together, we can empower ourselves!
Long live – Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers!
Long live – Nigerian Society of Engineers!!
Long live – Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
EngrMrs FunmiladeAkingbagbohum FNIMechE
Chairman.
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