Our dead are not dead to us, until they have been forgotten. The late Engr. Ibrahim Khaleel INUWA has left rich and memorable legacies that cannot be forgotten.
I have chosen not to talk about his contributions to engineering, development, and humanity because I know many eminent engineers and indeed other Nigerians are set to look at his contributions to all of these very shortly. But I should say the basic things that he was to us while with us.
This distinguished engineer was born on April 15, 1949 in Gwale L.G.A, Kano City. He was at Kofar Kudu Junior Primary School, Emir’s Palace, Kano and at the Gwale Senior Primary School, Kano. He proceeded to Government College Kaduna and, later, Rumbas College Kano, for his High and Higher School education.
He graduated BEng, Mechanical Engineering, at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1973 and later an M.Sc. in automobile engineering from Cranfield University, Bedford in 1978.
Engr. Inuwa served in Port Harcourt at the Marine Services Department of the River State Transport Corporation in 1973/74 service year. He commenced engineering pupilage at Kano State Ministry of Works and Survey and rose meritoriously from Pupil engineer in 1974 to Principal Engineer. Then moved on to the Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Kano as Assistant Chief Engineer, later, Chief Engineer. He became Chief Mechanical Engineer Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority 1986, Deputy Managing Director, National Trucks Manufacturers Ltd and acted as Managing Director in 1986.
He was member of the Kano State Executive Council as the Commissioner for Ministry of Rural & Community Development, and as a Commissioner in the Ministry of Animal Health and Forestry. He was Director of Engineering in the Kano State Agricultural Rural Development Authority and retired voluntarily from public service in 1989 to become Chairman, Technovation Limited. He also founded Technokonsult Ltd.
Engr. INUWA played key roles in the development of the Engineering profession in Nigeria using, especially, the platform of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
He received six major awards of the Nigerian Society of Engineers between 1983 and 2008, and Merit Award for Excellence Service to Technology of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering COREN distinguished in 1997. He was honoured by the Lagos State Polytechnic in 2005.
He was decorated with Nigeria’s national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2005.
Engr. Inuwa was President NSE, President COREN and Technical Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
On behalf of Council and Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, I express our heartfelt sympathy to the Family on the passing onto Glory of this wonderful engineer. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and grant the entire INUWA family the fortitude to bear the loss.
May His Gentle Soul rest in peace (Amen).
Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu FAEng, FNSE.
Executive Secretary,
Nigerian Academy of Engineering.