On the Friday, 6th March, 2020, the Chairman, was another epoch-making event as the Engineering Forum of Nigerian in the United Kingdom (EFN-UK) played host the 2- man NIMechE delegation led by Engr. Dr. Robinson I. Ejilah at rendezvous in Hendon Central Station, in the Northern Line, North East London by 4:00 pm.
Engr. Dr. Robinson Ejilah and Engr Osazoduwa Agboneni were both received by the EFN President, Engr. Oladapo Sulu and the Special Duties Secretary of the organisation, Engr. Ola Mustapha. After the opening formalities, Dr. Ejilah conveyed the NIMechE National Chairman’s message of goodwill to the leadership of EFN. He expressed his profound gratitude to EFN for their role and support in the 2019 NIMechE International Conference/AGM held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
As the premier professional association in the UK for UK-based engineering professionals of Nigerian descent and others with demonstrable interest in the development of engineering as a profession in Nigeria. Dr Ejilah extolled the organizational achievements EFN for its capacity to mobilize and transform Nigerian Engineers into an influential professional engineering community. He assured the EFN representatives that, NIMechE will always be available to serve as a ‘conveyor belt’ whenever our assistance is sought to transmit their thoughts and developmental initiatives to advance the course of their fatherland in areas of ; infrastructural development and capacity building.
Besides soliciting for closer ties and cooperation among the two organizations. He informed the host that NIMechE is looking out for opportunities that will enable group achieve its strategic objective through collaboration and networking with NGOs, and governmental organizations; exploring existing opportunities for research and development grants and financing; patenting and commercialization of research and innovation products and promotion of entrepreneurship development and investment opportunities for its members.
Dr Ejilah also reeled-off a catalogue of requests for assistance and these include; the provision of current engineering information materials, such as manuals, books, journals , proceedings and on-resource to enrich NIMechE’s Library; assist in the co-sponsoring of NIMechE events and conferences ; assist with endowment funds to support NIMechE activities and award presentation ceremonies; assist with mentorship for ongoing projects, such as the RAEng sponsored FAFME project; provision of engineering kits; providing resource persons for engineering training and bootcamps ; investing in home-grown commercially viable projects and research outcomes; facilitating technical training/seminars in the UK and Nigeria; organizing technical site visits to the UK engineering powerhouses; and supporting NIMechE membership campaign among UK based Nigerian mechanical engineers and technicians.
In response, the EFN President Engr. Oladipo Sulu, was indeed delighted to meet with the NIMechE delegation to discuss areas of collaboration between the two organizations. In his optimism, he noted that this meeting would mark the beginning of a good working relationship for both organisations. He felicitated with NIMechE for the successful hosting of the 2019 International Conference and AGM in which EFN was invited to play a role. Engr. Sulu also acknowledge the receipt of the NIMechE Corporate Award presented to his organisation at the annual event, and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the entire membership of EFN-UK. He is looking forward to a closer working relationship with NIMechE and pledged EFN support in any way feasible. He wished NIMechE all the best in its future endeavor.
After the presentation of NIMechE memorabilia, to the EFN leadership, the meeting ended on very pleasant note.