On the noon of Tuesday, 5th June 2018, a delegation of National Association of Nigerian University Students (NANUS) led by its Senate President, Comrade Lawal Abdulhafiz besieged the office of the former National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical (NIMechE) Engineer, Engr. Prof. Adisa A. Bello, FNSE, FNIMechE, to honour him with a National Award of Excellence.
In the student’s delegation were in attendance the Vice President II, Comrade Tukur Hamman Bello, and other key national officers of the body. In solidarity with the awardee are the NIMechE National Chairman, Engr. Dr. Robinson I. Ejilah, MNSE, FNIMechE the NSE Bauchi Branch Chairman, Engr. Abubakar Usman, and other officers and staff of the Centre of Industrial Studies, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
As protocol would demand, Comrade Abdulhafiz reeled-off his mission statement. He informed the audience that NANUS was formed around the year 2006, with the aim of promoting academic excellence, and progressive and accountable leadership amongst Nigerian University students.
He added that Prof. Adisa Bello’s, name kept popping – up like a ‘recurring decimal’ within the circle of Nigerian University students, for his outstanding leadership roles, and numerous contributions in promoting academic and professional excellence in engineering. He reiterated that these notable contributions and qualities of his has endeared him to NANUS, and earned him overwhelming recognition, and hence his nomination for the coveted Award, at the last NANUS congress in Kogi State University, Ayangba. So their mission by this visit was to confer the award on their deserving leader, mentor and teacher.
In his response, Prof Bello thanked the students for the award which has made him more humble than ever. He recalled that just a few months earlier, he was shocked beyond words when the leadership of Northern Nigeria University Students called him out and conferred on him the esteemed ‘Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award’-as an icon of educational development. He noted that all this speaks to the fact that ‘in our service to our dear nation, we must all strive to live above board, and above and beyond our ethnic, regional and religious identities, or who else would have ever imagined that coming from the South-Western region of the country, he could ever be so accepted in the North’.
He thanked the students over and again for finding him worthy of the award
, and would always cherish this award from Nigerian Students. The erudite Professor also urged the students to work hard, and be of exemplary character and conduct at all times.
The NIMechE National Chairman, Dr. Robinson I. Ejilah felicitated with the awardee for his very impactful professional and intellectual contributions to the nation. He agreed with NANUS that they have indeed found a mentor and role model. He commended the student leader and members of his delegation for living to the billings of NANUS mission and vision. He urged them to remain true to their commitment towards promoting academic excellence and providing the desired future leadership for the country.
He argued that if the grooming of future leaders does not take place early enough to rid a generational void, then the nation would be worse for it. He showered encomium on the students organization, and assured the leaders that, as they have decided to identify, honor and celebrate a role model today, they shall in turn be honored by the next generation of visionary and brilliant Nigerian youths.
The NSE Chairman Bauchi Branch, Engr. Abubakar Usman, FNSE also extolled the virtue of the awardee, and dished out cheery words of commendation to the student leaders on their noble mission. He urged them to stay focused on the goal of building a progressive and united nation.
Prof. Adisa A. Bello, FNSE, FNIMechE has carved a niche for himself as a celebrated mechanical Engineer and Engineering Educator through excellence, hand working and selfless service. He took appointment with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi as a Graduate Assistant in 1991 and rose to the rank of Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 2010. He was Director, Centre of Energy Research, Head of Mechanical /Production Engineering Department now Director, Center of Industrial Studies. He has to his credit over 50 journal papers, 8 technical reports and 12 public lectures. He was member of ATBU Governing Council, National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is a member of many professional bodies and a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria and Automobile Engineering Institute of Nigeria. He is at present serving on the Council of COREN.
Prof. Adisa is a recipient of a plethora of awards, and has his name listed in; the International Who’s is Who Historical Society in the Year 2011 -20111 as a Professional Educator, and also in the International Registry Who’s Who of Executives and Professional in the Year 2012 – 2013, as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
On the strength of the award presentation and made on behalf of over 20,000,000 Nigerian University students, Prof. Adisa has been duly granted unfettered admittance into the NANUS Hall of Fame.
On behalf of the Council and entire member of Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the National Chairman, heartily felicities with its former National Chairman, Engr. Prof. Adisa A. Bello FNSE, FNIMechE, FAutoEI, FSESN, – and indeed, an icon of hope in engineering – on his well deserved honor.
Engr. Dr Ejilah Robinson, FNIMechE
