Thank you for keeping up and engaging with this series that is now in its fifth edition. Last week, we examined the tempestuous 60’s in Nigeria when political instability affected the developmental plans for the nation. The turbulence derailed whatever strides the country could have made with regards to indigenous engineering. We shall continue today by looking at the formation of the Association of Consulting Engineers, ACEN.
Despite the poor treatment meted out to early engineers by expatriates and the society, interest in engineering by young people did not diminish. Increase in tertiary institutions from 4 in 1960 to 20 by 1970 provided ample opportunities for students to study engineering. The major oil companies in the country gave scholarships to students to study both at home and abroad. The federal government, the commonwealth and foreign governments all made scholarships available to students. Engineering education was thriving by the beginning of the seventies.
With the end of the war, there were increased opportunities for engineers to practice their profession. Much rehabilitation needed to be done, and there was money to do it. The Nigerian Society of Engineers continued to provide the platform for engineers to network and address engineering issues.
However, the most significant factor that sustained the interest was the empowerment created by the COREN Decree that provided opportunities for the indigenous engineers. The then Commissioner for Works and Housing, Mr. Femi Okunnu, singularly ensured the promulgation and enforcement of the decree. He encouraged the use of local engineers, strengthened the Direct Labour Unit of the Ministry of Works and got them to design the Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, the Ministry of External Affairs at the Marina, and the Federal Government Block of Flats for public officers on Eric Moore Road. With the decree in place and opportunities available, engineers in government resigned their appointment to start their own consulting businesses.
Every engineering product has its life cycle, from the idea stage, through concept and detailed designs to construction and manufacture, and finally to maintenance during use and disposal at its life’s end. University engineering researchers generate new ideas, consulting engineers prepare designs and supervise construction, contractors and manufacturers produce the products, and maintenance engineers ensure their functionality during use.
These processes involve the use of technical knowledge, materials and labour to produce infrastructures, goods and services for the individual and the community. In doing this,they create employment, promote trade, facilitate communication and networking and maintain our quality of life. They also provide the goods and infrastructures for social development including schools, stadiums, hospitals, drugs and equipment. Simply put, engineering ensures economic and social development.
Between the late 1960s and mid-1970s, at least 50 consulting engineering firms were registered and thrived in Nigeria. Being private companies, they obviously shared common interests and challenges, not least of which are remuneration for work done and standards for practitioners to ensure quality. I am careful to limit the word count of this article here, mostly because of the nature of the online world. So, I will basically touch on a few key facts while I encourage you to get the book.
The Founders
The formation of ACEN started in 1971 when about twelve senior consultants got together to form an association for the newly emerging sector. These were not men who were struggling to survive, but mostly men who had proved their mettle in previous pre-occupations. They were experienced, confident and competent professionals mostly in their forties. They had resources and society presence to make it happen, and this is what they did.
The leader of the team was F. A. O. Phillips who had just, the previous year, retired as the General Manager of Nigerian Railways after 35 years of meritorious service. Upon retirement, he formed the firm of F.A.O. Phillips and Associates. Indeed, the post-independence period had already started producing Nigerian engineers and engineering firms. The first of them on record was Obi Obembe and Partners, founded in 1958 by George Obimakinde Obembe. Another, Victor Olatunde Oyefodunrin a former lecturer in hydraulics at the College of Technology, co-founded the UNECON, a firm of mechanical and electrical consultants in 1972 with A. O. Soyanwo and S. A. Akinleye as partners. Others include Adenrele Adejumo, Folasodun Adebisi Shonubi, Iyiola Omisore, Chris Fajemirokun and Titus Olagoke Akanni Bamgbopa, Dr Babajide and Sam Okonkwo.
These were the first signatories to the first Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria. Later, a list of 47 members was sent to FIDIC as part of the application for membership in 1976.
Formation and Registration
The first attempt to form an association in the construction industry was the Association of Consultants, which cut across all disciplines in the construction and building industry and included architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and town planners, led by Arc Olumuyiwa, the first Nigerian architect. Not much progress was made with this association and it was never registered.
The first meeting for the formation of ACEN was held at the Island Club on the 7th of August 1971 with the 12 Engineers in attendance. F. A. O. Phillips and A. O. Beckley were by consensus appointed Ad Hoc Chairman and Secretary respectively. At the next meeting held on the 9th of October 1971, Mr. Beckley had taken ill and Mr. Oyefodunrin started to act as Secretary.
At the meeting held on Saturday 19th April 1972, the Memorandum of Article of the Association was ratified and the incorporation processes was started. Unfortunately, formal approval could not be obtained from the Ministry of Trade due to protests from within the industry. In February 1973, a new draft of the Memorandum and Articles of Association in line with that of the UK association was sent to Dr. Arthur Nylander, a lawyer and friend of Engr. F. A. O. Phillips for review. While waiting for statutory registration, the association continued to hold meetings and regular activities. Members were also introduced to the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, FIDIC and started attending the conference. ACEN subsequently applied for full membership of FIDIC and was elected in 1977.
On the 13th of May 1978 Dr. Arthur Nylander forwarded, on behalf of the Association, an application for Registration of the Association together with a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association to the Federal Ministry of Trade, Companies Affairs Division. After obtaining COREN approval, the Certificate of Incorporation No RC28471 dated 12th June 1979, under the Company Decree 1968, Limited by Guarantee (not having a share capital) was issued.
I am sure you want to know more about the Association, especially regarding its fundamental principles and objectives, qualification for membership and administration. Simply go to this link to download the book for free or get the physical copy as advised earlier. Once again, I thank you for the feedback and encourage you to continue engaging with the contents. Comment, share and get the discussion going. Until next time.
Bayo is the Founder and Managing Director of CPMS. He is a passionate advocate for developmental planning and the use of project management to help organisations actively build their value creation capabilities. Bayo has worked as a consulting engineer for more than 30 years, specialising in building structures, water and wastewater management, urban infrastructures, and more recently, highway designs. He speaks and writes internationally on Engineering as an intrinsic basis for development in Africa: he is an ardent believer in Engineering, Design and Technology as a necessity for a well set up future. In the past, he has served as Chair of FIDIC’s Capacity Development Committee and a former member of the FIDIC Executive Committee from 2003 to 2007. he can be reached at +234(0)8022910259; kaa@cpmslimited.com; www.cpmslimited.com