Recently, the Presidents of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engr Ali Rabiu and Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr Babagana Mohammed led other engineers on a working Visit to Ebonyi State. Among the itinerary involves inspection of Engineering Infrastructures in the state. Reports, Charles Upele and Isqil Najim.
The two leaders, accompanied by the President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, Engr. Funmilola Ojelade, were taken through various eye catching projects under the watch of Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi, a registered engineer and a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers.
A lot have been said of the groundbreaking works being done by Engr Dave Umahi in Ebonyi State but as the saying goes, seeing is believing. It was on account of this that the engineering leaders used the occasion of two day working visit to the state to assess the infrastructure drives in the state. The visit which held between October 10 and 12, 2021.
Also on the team are: The COREN state officer, the Representative of the Governor on the State Technical Committee Engr. Enyinnaya Eni who also doubles as the Vice Chairman Nigeria Society of Engineers Abakaliki Chapter, ESTC and the NSE state chapter to be part of all the activities to mark the visit.
On Sunday 10th October, 2021 Ebonyi delegation departed Ebonyi state in company of the Honorable Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara, Engr. G.I Nwankwo Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Engr. Enyinnaya Eni (ESTC), Engr. Felix Ota, Mr. Ekene Protocol officer and Mr. Charles Chiangi Upele (COREN State Officer) to Akanu Ibiam international Airport, Enugu state to receive the visiting team.
On COREN delegation led by Engr. Ali A Rabiu are Prof. Joseph. O. Odigure – Registrar COREN, Engr. Abubakar Zubairu, Council member, Engr. Kamila Maliki FNSE – Past Registrar COREN and Mr. Ahmed Saleh – Council affairs. While Engr Babagana Mohammad delegation
NSE delegation led by Engr. Babagana Mohammed, Engr. Aishatu Aliyu Umar, Engr. Felix Nwankwo, Vice President, Engr. Dr. Okopi Alex Momoh, Executive Secretary, Engr. M B Shehu Executive Vice President WFEO and – Past president. From APWEN, led by Engr. Funmilola Ojelade – APWEN President are Engr. Dr. Elizabeth Eterigho, APWEN Vice President and Engr. Nkechi Isigwe FNSE a Past President APWEN
The first port of call is of course the Ebonyi International Airport currently under construction by the Governor. On getting to the site the team was received by staff of the ministry of works and transport who were supervising the construction works going on at the airport, the team was taken round the Tarmac under construction, fire service building under construction, 4.6km concrete runway under construction, control tower under construction and the airport junction flyover under construction.
After inspection of the ongoing work at the airport, some members of the team ask questions and made remarks while the site Engineers on ground, provided more information.
The team departed the airport project site and went to Afikpo South Local Government Area, Edda to inspect the ongoing work on the two flyovers under construction, the team saw the ongoing construction work on the Afikpo township flyover and the Iyere Hill flyover Bridge
The team proceeded to inspect ongoing work and inspect some facilities and structures at king David University of Medical Health Sciences (KDUMS) Uburu, at the permanent site of the university. They met the Executive Governor who was also on a routine inspection of work in the university, the Governor was very pleased to see the team he welcomed the team to the state and informed them to critically look at all what they are doing and also offer some professional advice where the need arises, He then instructed the acting Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Jesse .C. Uneke to take the team round the structures and Facilities in the University.
The team visited the main block of the university which house some teaching and learning facilities. The facility comprises offices and lecture halls which were well furnished. Two of the lecture halls in each floor of the building was also sighted. They have an estimated capacity of 180 seat.
An inspection tour of the Physics laboratory, Biology laboratory, Chemistry laboratory, Students hostel block, Lectures Offices, School Library, Digital Library, the Teaching Hospital Block under construction and the office of the vice chancellor etc were to follow.
Still at Uburu the team visited the university flyover bridge, the industrial cluster site and the industrial cluster fly over bridge
The team departed Ahaozara local Government back to Abakaliki the state capital to inspect to the completed ecumenical center a 5000 capacity structure built for religious and secular events in the state and Ebonyi city Mall constructed by Governor David Umahi.
Day 2
In continuation of its activities the following day Tuesday, 11th October 2021 the team visited Ebonyi state vocational collage (silicon valley) the team also inspected work on some structures under construction at the new government house centenary city
a. The Office of the First lady, Government house chapel, New Exco chamber, flyover at the international market junction, Sperandeo junction twin flyover, Presco flyover and Ebonyi State Rice Mill etc
There after the team went back to the Executive Council chamber at the new Government House for a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state.
The meeting started at about 3:30pm with the arrival of the governor to the Exco chambers, the Executive Secretary of NSE Engr. Dr. Okopi Alex Momoh, introduced members of the delegation and the NSE President Engr. Babagana Mohammed gave his address.
The Governor in his remarks and response to the speech of the NSE President thanked members of the delegation for taking out time despite their very busy schedules to visit the state and see what they were doing, he spoke extensively on the need for proper training and retraining of engineers in States that wants to move up and according to him said it was what preempted him to come up with the idea of the vocational college, on the issue of projects scattered all around Ebonyi state he said that they were able to do it because he and his team were very transparent in their dealings and were able to cut cost by using direct labour to execute most of the projects.
In his closing remarks he said that the team would be welcome to the state any time to come and commission some of the projects executed, the Governor then announced the official handing over of the silicon valley to COREN and as part of his efforts to support COREN in coming out with a workable blue print to ensure that the vocational college is put to good use in the training of Engineering students for a one year mandatory training programme in the higher institutions of learning in Nigeria, he announced that a committee be set up in the state to liaise with COREN in that regard to be headed by,
Secretary to the State Government – Chairman
Commissioner for Education – Member
Commissioner for Commerce – Member
Commissioner for Health – Member
Commissioner for Works and Transport – Member
The high point of the meeting was the presentation of merit awards to the Executive Governor by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and APWEN, then a group photograph was taken with the Governor and all engineers in attendance which the Governor instructed that a copy of the picture be enlarged and kept at the Exco chambers.
The meeting came to a close and the team departed back to the Hotel to prepare for the Gala night.
