The President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Babagana Mohammed has tasked the various Branches and Divisions under the NSE to work harder to uplift the public Image and influence of Engineering in the society through collaborations with relevant bodies and community services
He made this appeal during his address at the Maiden Distinguished Public Lecture organised by the Ado Ekiti branch of the NSE in honour of their first chairman, Engr. Dr. Ayodele Afolabi Esan, in Ado Ekiti.
Speaking through a Vice President of NSE, Engr Adeniran Ibitoye who represented him, Babagana said he was delighted that the Branch recognizes the contribution of pioneers chairman and commended their efforts in ensuring that those who have paid their due to the Engineering. He commended the Branch for being a very energetic Branch with robust organizational qualities in the recent time.
Babagana said that the “The staying power and bedrock of the growth and development of our Branches and Divisions remain the focus on the vision of providing professional development for our members, as well as contributing to the advancement of engineering practice in Nigeria.” He added that “That foundation has been laid for us by the founding fathers of this great Society years ago. I am glad that Ado Ekiti Branch has kept that vision alive.”
Commenting on the choice of the theme of the public Lecture; “scaling up renewable energy, energy efficiency and rural energy access for accelerated industrial growth in ekiti.”, Babagana noted the theme is appropriate in the light of the state of power sector in Nigeria
He commended the chairman of the Branch, Engr. Afuye in his efforts at moving the Ado Ekiti Branch forward. He however call for more dr the Branch as a lot of works is still needed to be done it just at the Branch level but across the country.
“The truth is that the Engineering profession in Nigeria has not made the kind of incursion into government or wielded as much professional influence as other professions have made over the years.” He stressed.
“We must start now. And it is not going to be at the National level alone. The little that we can do to increase the influence and relevance of our Branches and Divisions in their respective areas of operation will go a long way. It could come by way of community service, partnership with the State Government on important projects or mentoring and advocacy programmes to raise awareness for the importance of Engineering to nation’s development.” He concluded.
Highlights of the program include; induction of new members, presentation of awards and fund raising for the fencing of the Branch Secretariat.
The program had in attendance the following personalities; Vice President of the NSE, Engr Prince Adeniran Ibitoye KLM, a National EXCO Member, Engr Joseph Adebayo; Chairman NSE Akure Branch Engr Ezekiel Oloruntola; Dean College of Engineering ABUAD, Branch; Engr Prof I.E. Owolabi & Dean Faculty of Engineering EKSU, Engr Prof Ogunleye Oluwaleye.
Also in attendance were the past Chairmen of the Branch; Engr. Prof. Olugbenga Aribisala, Engr. Prof Babatunde Adeyemo, Engr Adeola Johnson, Engr Pastor A.T. Oyediran, Engr Omoniyi Ogundare, Engr Dr Olumide Ogundare, among others.
Engr Esan is an Electrical Engineer, with National & International credentials among his contemporaries and the Guest Speaker at the event was a former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Lagos and University of Ilorin respectively and later joined the service of the then Ondo State University, now Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti as an Associate Professor in 1988 with several decades of teaching experience. He was the foundation Dean of the Faculty of Engineering before he left for Energy Commission of Nigeria in 1993.
Dr. Ayodele Esan had seen it all from the academia, multinationals, private & public sectors where he contributed immensely to National Growth & Sustainable Development and he is regarded as a man of many parts.
Engr Dr Ayodele Esan is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and many other International Organisations.
-Isqil Najim