PROTOCOLS
With gratitude to Almighty Allah, I accept the honour to be inaugurated as the 22nd Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ilorin Branch. Elected now to bear the mantle, I pledge to serve the Harmony Engineers, Engineering profession and humanity at large to the best of my ability.
The Chairman of the Occasion, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil, FNSE; the Distinguished Guest of Honour, Chairman Salman Shagaya Foundation, Alh. Sherrif Shagaya; the Royal Father of the Day, the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Dr. Abubakar Usman Akanbi Jos (Sheeeeeeehu 3x); Special Guests of Honour – Kwara State Hon. Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, FNSE, FNIMechE; the Dan-Iya of Ilorin Emirate and Director Procurement, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, FNSE; my Boss, the Provost, Kwara State College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi, Dr. Muhammed D. Ibrahim, and Commissioner 1, Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. AbdulGaniyu Toyyib Omotosho; the Immediate Past Chairman of NSE Ilorin Branch, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Temitope Elizabeth Odetoye, FNSE; all Past Chairmen of NSE Ilorin Branch here present; the National Vice-President (North Central), Engr. Joseph Sunday Adebayo, FNSE, FNIEEE; all National Executive members here present; our noble Guest Speaker, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Prof. Adisa Ademola Bello, FNSE, FNIMechE, FAEng; all Fellows, Corporate, Graduate and Student members of NSE, and all well-wishers here present, gentlemen of the Press, ladies and gentlemen.
Myself and my team of EXCO have been holding high the flag of this Branch from the very first day we assumed office as Executives of the Branch on 1st September, 2022 and I wish to assure that, this Executive Committee Members, under my leadership, has the capacity and strength to continue mobilizing the necessary human and material resources to create value for the greatest good of the Branch and her members in line with the mission of our great Society – NSE.
As I assume office as the Chief Executive Officer of the Harmony Branch, I am aware that our time is limited. I make a pledge on behalf of my Executive Committee, who are already rolling out their arsenals, that, by the grace of God, we shall make our days count, and we shall uphold and uplift the tenets of the Society. Our engagements in the next 2years will include but not limited to:
Innovation Management: We shall make significant contributions to the advancement of technology and be part of actualization of the Federal Government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Road Map 2030, by managing the innovation capacities of our Members through – Research Collaboration with Universities and Research Institutes within our catchment areas; Annual Young Engineers Innovation Challenge; and Inauguration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee for the Branch.
Government and Institutional Collaboration: My team shall continue to strengthen the Branch’s relationship with the Kwara State government, Federal Government Agencies, Industries and Institutions in the State in order to facilitate local patronage for the Kwara-based Engineers and Engineering Firms in the growth and development of the state and Nigeria at large.
Engineering Regulation and Monitoring: Being a Member of the Kwara State Technical Committee of COREN, we shall continue to give the necessary supports and encouragement to COREN STC/ERM to be able to discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently, as our profession must be seen as an organized, disciplined, and enviable one that stands for excellence at all time. The time to stamp quackery out of Engineering profession is now!
Branch Engineering Centre (BEC) Project: The BEC Development Committee has been inaugurated, under the Chairmanship of Engr. Olasupo Nelson Oladimeji, FNSE, FNIMechE, Group Managing Director of Henry George Company Ltd. The Committee is charged with the responsibility of equipping the newly completed Auditorium we are sitting right now, with state of the art facilities – seats, heat, ventilation and air conditioning, public address system, and powering the auditorium with renewable energy. With the caliber of experienced and highly connected professionals on the Committee, I believe these would be achieved before the end of our tenure.
Revenue Drive: we shall continue to think out of the box towards generating more revenues for the Branch. The BEC Auditorium and Mini Hall shall be worked on towards making it a reliable source of income for the Branch, as the necessity for financial sustainability of the Branch cannot be overemphasized. We shall also generate revenues for the Branch through running of seminars, workshops and trainings that are capable of redirecting the technological growth of our state and our dear nation to an advanced level.
Community Service: few weeks after assumption of office, we constructed and commissioned water fetching points towards providing portable water for residents of Engineering Close, Tanke, Ilorin and beyond. This and many others that are in the pipeline are tailored towards the goal and directive of the National Headquarters of NSE, who gave marching order to Branches to execute impactful community projects from time to time.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD): The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) now awards points for CPD and any Registered Engineer that meets the required CPD points will get his/her COREN Annual Practicing License free of charge. My administration will focus more on capacity building and professional development of members of the Branch through monthly Technical Sessions, Hands-on Workshops/Trainings, Seminars, Webinars, and other programmes that will further strengthen the practice of engineering profession.
I will like to acknowledge the founding Fathers and Past Chairmen of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ilorin Branch for their foresight in setting out a solid foundation for all members to build a great wall. I will also like to thank the immediate past Chairman of the Branch, the First Female to be so elected, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Temitope Elizabeth Odetoye, FNSE, for her selfless services and landmark achievements towards making our Branch greater.
At this juncture, I will like us to honour our departed heroes, our Past Chairmen who have answered the call of their Creator and other members of the Branch who have passed on (may their souls continue to rest in peace, amen).
I shall forever cherish the honour bestowed on the Branch by the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin Emirate, Dr. Abubakar Usman Akanbi Jos. May your reign be long Sir.
My special appreciation goes to my own President, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil, FNSE and all the National Executive Members of our great Society for their love and support for Ilorin Branch. Thank you for making this occasion memorable.
Dear Distinguished Guests of Honour and our Special Guests of Honour, we cannot thank you enough for honouring us with your presence despite your very tight schedules. Thank you and God bless you.
I must commend the Hon. Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, FNSE, FNIMechE, for the good work he is doing. Thank you for being a good ambassador of the Engineering family. Your continuous support for the Branch and Society at large is greatly appreciated. Permit me to use this medium to congratulate you and the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the success of the 1-Week 3D CAD Training for One Hundred Kwaran Youths. It is a laudable project and we are looking forward to such collaborations with the Branch.
Please allow me to appreciate those who are dearest to me. I will like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my lovely parents, Late Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Muhammed and Alhaja Thuwaibat Adebomi Taiwo, who both worked hard to make me the man I am today. I will also like to specially appreciate my darling Wives – Hajia Fadilat Omolola Taiwo Olashehu and Hajia Mariam Omotato Taiwo Olashehu for your care, love and support and for labouring day and night with me. I love you so much my heartthrobs. I specially appreciate the understanding and co-operation of my children and siblings. This honour is to us all. I say a very big thank you to my Uncles – Alh. Hon. Ajadi Adebayo Saka (Oja-Iya); Alh. Ayuba Saliu Olanrewaju; and Hajj Jimoh Ajagbe for their inestimable contributions to my growth and development and for nurturing me to become the man I am today. May Allah help me reward you abundantly, amen. Physical development without spiritual elevation is nothing. It is on this note I want to specially appreciates my Spiritual Father and Sheikh; Alh. Sheikh Ameenlah Aduagba Ibn Muhammad Basheer (Baba Masingba). Jazakallah Khairan.
The Investiture Planning Committee members, ably led by Engr. Yusuf Wopa, FNSE and Co-Chaired by Engr. Femi Abidoye, MNSE; thank you for organizing a befitting Inauguration Ceremony at no cost to the Branch. May Almighty God reward your efforts and sacrifices towards making this programme a success. My Special appreciation to a dear friend and brother; a past Chairman of NSE Ilorin Branch, Engr. Moshood AbdulKadir Akanbi, FNSE. Thanks for all the support, I am grateful. Special thanks to Hafsoh Kikelomo Ajike for the numerous supports. Jazakallah khairan. To all my friends and well-wishers; I remain grateful now and always.
My appreciation will not be complete if I fail to specially appreciate the former Ag. Provost, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr. Jimoh Ahmed Ayinla Agaka, FCIPDM, who has being our go-to-person whenever we have constraints in accessing funds with emergency and important tasks/ programmes at hand. Thanks for always being there for us and accept my Congratulation on your successful completion of tenure of office and retirement from active service. Wishing you the very best in your future endeavors.
Thank you all.
Long Live Nigerian Society of Engineers!
Long Live Kwara State!!
Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!