On the occasion of His Investiture as the 7th Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Lagos Chapter
WE ARE STEP-UP TRANSFORMERS!
PROTOCOLS
The president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) and all other protocols duly observed
PROLOGUE
The book of wisdom says, I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to the men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill: but time and chance happens to them all.
It’s TIME to Step-up the “LIGHT”: – WE ARE Transformers!
PREAMBLE
In the name of the Most High God, the Most Merciful and Fearful God, I feel highly elated and deeply honored to be elected as the captain to steer the ship of the number one chapter of the most decorated Institute of Engineering in Nigeria at this period (The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE)) on a voyage of professional excellence by engaging what I have coined the step-up TRANSFORMER.
I humbly welcome you all to this distinct day in the annals of history of our great Institute at the investiture of the 7th Chairman and inauguration of the 2021/2022 Executive Members. I must express my profound gratitude for this rare privilege before going further to sincerely appreciate the immediate past Chairman, a dynamic and charismatic leader, Engr. Bayo Olusodo FNIEEE for sustaining the chapter’s positive reputation and achieving a competitive edge amongst other chapters of the Federation.
Permit me also to say, “A Big Thank You”, to the pillars of our noble chapter: Our elders, past chairmen and distinguished professional members for defending the unity and upholding the honor of the Institute having contributed in no small measure to her success. It has been team work all the way with acronym: together each achieves more. A favorite African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
We have achieved this much progress because of our staying knitted together. If I have seen further, wrote Isaac Newton, in a 1675 letter to fellow scientist Robert Hooke, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. We are here today because of giants gone ahead of us, and are indeed grateful for their noteworthy strides.
PERSPECTIVE
The NIEEE consists of Engineering personnel in various areas such as Electrical, Electronics, Avionics, Computing, Broadcasting, Communications, Control, Instrumentation, Power and other related disciplines.
Our vision is as a branch is, “To be the leading and most credible professional Institute of first choice”.
Moreover, our mission is, “To promote professional competence and excellence among members through innovative contributions and development of sustainable solutions to challenging Engineering problems by deploying efficient technologies and systems for the benefit of mankind”.
We can see that this mission helps to bring to light the vision that drives us.
CHALLENGES
However, the lack of funds has been the can-car-worm eating the fabrics of the institute to underperform her full potentials. In spite of this challenge, the executive members retreat held on 31st of July 2021, where we came up with appropriate strategies to nip the challenge in the bud. Items on our to-do list, included: aggressive membership drive and the creation of alternative sources of chapter’s activities funding in strict compliance with transparency and accountability.
PLANS AND PROJECTIONS
We do not plan to reinvent the wheel, but we shall put in hard work to continue the transformation of the wheel of progress by consolidating on the past achievements as we endeavor to take the chapter to a new pedestal. To achieve this, we would run an all-inclusive administration where all members are carried along and their views are catered for, through regular consultations and interaction in an exciting and creative manner while adhering strictly to covid-19 strict protocols. In this wise, we intend to significantly empower our members through online and web-based communication platforms in real terms more than we have up until this moment.
In addition, we will work in synergy with NSE branches within Lagos State with the aim of positioning NIEEE as professionals to handle prevailing electrical and electronic components of the larger societal problems.
Furthermore, we shall explore untapped resources latent in well-structured mutual collaborative programs and projects with major corporate and multi-lateral agencies, such as: NEMSA, SON, DISCOs and COREN among others that can result in positive benefits to our members and the Country at large.
Also, as part of strategies for internally generated revenues, the chapter will organize commercial training aimed at capacity building on two prongs, technical and management, for members, with key resource persons drawn from the professional Industry and Academia.
In addition to the foregoing, we shall extend our olive branches to the NIEEE Student members in all the tertiary institutions in Lagos State by engaging in interactive sessions to prepare them for the working environment after graduation and the dire need to embrace entrepreneurship instead of job hunting.
Finally, because we are STEP-UP Transformers, we shall remain an immensely distinguished architect in the vanguard of NIEEE at large with a major aim of pushing forward LAGOS CHAPTER as PACE SETTERS.
CONCLUSION
In summary, I like to echo the voice of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo that we are committed to the development of a sound mind in a sound body. Indeed, the chain is strongest at its weakest link goes that sage, and we committed to ensuring that the feeble among us become strong again.
It is worthy to re-iterate that “Not that we sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God”
Long live our noble profession and thank you for your investment in time resources, especially your presence at this investiture and inauguration ceremony.