Last weekend, 5th March 2017 at Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and other professionals joined others in celebrating one of its Past President, Engr Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE), Nigerian Academy of Engineering, (NAE), , the Agba-Akin of Ile-Ife, as he marks his 70th birthday.
The events which was held at the Oba Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road and Jogor Centre, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State attracted a host of dignitaries from engineering, who came to celebrate one of the shinning stars of Nigerian Engineering.
The NSE President, Engr Otis Oliver Tabugbo Anyaeji FNSE, FAEng, was represented by a National Exco Member, Engr Ibitoye Kilomodemo FNSE. The NSE Past Presidents; Engr Ife Akintunde FNSE (1987-1988), Engr I.K. Inuwa FNSE (1989 1990), Engr Dr F. A. Shonubi FNSE (1991-1992), and Engr Dr Olusegun Ajayi FNSE (1995) and his wife were in attendance to felicitate with their Colleague.
Others are: President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Engr Mrs V. Maduka FNSE, Past President, Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEN), Engr ‘Lanre Shagaya FNSE, Founder Etteh Aro & Partners, Engr Etteh I.I Etteh FNSE and his wife, President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Dr Idris Omede, Engr Tunde Akinteye FNSE (VP NSE), Engr Erelu Margaret Oguntala FNSE (Past VP NSE), Engr Babagana Mohammed FNSE (Past VP NSE).
Still more, the Branches were well represented: Engr Bola Olowe FNSE (Chairman, Ibadan Branch), Engr Abbass Mohammed Isola FNSE (Abeokuta Chairman); Engr Adetomiwa Zubayr, MNSE (Osogbo Chairman), some Branch Excos from Abeokuta and Ibadan Branches also made it to the ceremony. Engr Olalekan Kamil FNSE (Past Chairman, Ilorin Branch), Engr Alli Olayinka FNSE, Engr Pastor Ezekiel Ojekunle FNSE; Engr Ilori Babatunde FNSE (Past Chairmen of Ibadan Branch), good number of Engineers from Ibadan and its Environ, among other distinguished personalities. The great Ooni of Ife was represented by some paramount Traditional Rulers at the event.
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| Friends, Associates and well wishers at the thanksgiving Session in Ibadan |
Who is Engr Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola?
Engr. Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola was born on 5th March 1947 in Ile Ife, Osun State, to the family of Rev. Canon Emmanuel Olajuyitan Ajibola and Chief Mrs. Juliana Tijuara Ajibola both of blessed memory. He attended Primary Schools in Ile-Ife and Ibadan, and attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti between 1960 and 1966, for his School & Higher School Certificates.
He obtained B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering, University of London -West Ham College of Technology, Stratford E15, now University of East London in 1970. He had his initial pupilage at the Urban District Council of Basildon New Town, Essex, England 1970/73. Advanced his career back home in Nigeria in the Engineering Consultancy Practice of Etteh Aro & Partners 1974/76. He further obtained his M.Sc Degree in Highway & Traffic Engineering/Construction Management from the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston in 1978/79.
By late 1976, he co-founded INTECON PARTNERSHIP, (later INTECON PARTNERSHIP LTD), now a leading Consulting Engineering firm in Nigeria today. He later led the formation of Interworks Engineering Ltd., (Construction) and Automated Geotechnics Ltd., (Geotechnical Investigation and Foundation Engineering), both subsidiaries of INTECON PARTNERSHIP LTD, now ISO 9001:2008 certified.
He participated in spectacular projects both in the UK and across Nigeria including, Nevedon Road 63 Dwellings, Basildon, UK; TBS Civil Works, Lagos (1975); Air force Hangar at MM International Airport (1977); QIT-Ibeno Road through creeks & swamps; Eket, Bonny & Escravos Airstrip Runways for Exxon Mobil and Chevron respectively; several Highways nationwide including Flooded Section, Lokoja-Abuja Road.
His commitment to the Training and Mentoring of young Engineers, to release their great Engineering potentials, is legendry, and informs much of his work within the Engineering arena. To broaden his knowledge and enhance his professional and business horizon, he attended several developmental courses including the “Leading Professional Service Firm” in Harvard Business School, June, 2008.
Engr. Ajibola has served the Engineering Profession in various capacities in the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), ACEN and COREN over the past 3 decades and ultimately as the President of NSE, the Engineering Umbrella body, in years 2010 & 2011. He is author of several Engineering Technical Papers, presented at different National and International fora. Under his leadership, he made strong attempt at ensuring that Nigerian Salary Scale is revised. He was honoured with the 2015 NSE October Lecture, which is a special platform for Engineering leader to contribute into policy using their experience. He also organised the first Nationwide Anti Corruption Campaign for Engineers during his tenure as the NSE President.
His support for young Engineers development is immeasurable. The University of Ibadan Faculty of Technology Insititute Engineer Olumuyiwa Alade prize for Best Final Year project in his honour.
Engr. Ajibola has also been involved in Advisory and Policy Formulating Think Tanks both nationally and internationally. He was a Co-Chair of Infrastructure Policy Commission of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and a member of the Federal Government constituted National Refineries Special Task Force (NRSTF) in 2012. He is Vice Chairman Africa, of WFEO Standing Committee on Engineering and Environment (CEE) and also the Advisor to WFEO President in Africa.
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| The Celebrant with Engr Adeniran Ibitoye, Representing the NSE President Otis Anyaeji, Engr Margaret Oguntala, Engr Abass Ishola, Engr Joseph Akinteye and others |
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| Engr Ajibola flanked by Engr Adeniran Ibitoye representing NSE President, Otis Anyaeji along with other Past Presidents of NSE |
Down the years: Selected memorable Quotes of Engr Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola FNSE, C. Eng
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| With Senator Maeba and some Fellows of NSE |
“Over the years, Nigerians have blamed Engineers for failure in infrastructural provision and other issues ranging from collapsed building, bad roads, to poor power supply without considering the fact that professional engineers have not been appropriately involved in policy making and implementation at the highest levels…” Engr Alade Ajibola, 2010
“Any Nigerian project, no matter how complex it is perceived, in which Nigerian Engineers don’t play an active role throughout its project cycle, may be likened to the acquisition of what I will describe as a ‘luxury toy’, in that they may not be maintainable in the long run, at costs considered reasonable, when put against the procurement of a replacement!”- Engr Alade Ajibola
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| Engr Ajibola at the first Olu Awoyinfa Lecture organised by NSE Ikeja Branch, Lagos |
“I would say that it is about time that Nigeria gives citizenship to this ‘wonder being’ in the Nigerian Engineer. It is then that sustainable progress can be made in our developmental efforts as well as production through industrialization”.-Engr Alade Ajibola
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| Engr Ajibola (Conference Chairman) during the Press briefing of the first World Engineering Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure Organised in Sub-Sahara Africa hosted by Nigeria |
“It’s very clear that focusing on expendable resources as the mainstay of a national economy without developing appropriate human capital needed to drive production and infrastructural development won’t yield our expectation for industrialization and sustainable development,”- Engr Alade Ajibola,
I can say with confidence that Nigerian Engineers have appropriate Professional and Managerial competencies to midwife strategic dreams of Government on infrastructure Economic and National development and are ever ready to be involved, but have been distanced from the policy stages of such plans in many instances! Could it be because Engineers are involved at the project execution ends of the policies? Even this is not strictly so in our country! That stage is most often ceded to our foreign counterparts to the detriment of the project, our selves and the nation!- Engr Alade Ajibola,
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| Engr Ajibola and wife at their Installation as the Agbaakin and Yeye Agbaakin of Ile Ife |
“When I ponder on the profession of Engineering, its immense benefit in shaping the lives of mankind, it sometimes comes through to me as a human being of limitless capacity and an intimate ally to every aspect of the human life. Let us for a moment suppose that Engineering is a human being! What sort of person is Engineering?
“I would say Engineering is a very wise and powerful person indeed, deriving its great all round prowess from the Creator Himself. He is not a native of any particular country, yet a potential citizen of every country that adopts him. He has no ethnicity! That is why after turning Europe and America into places to behold, his work in Asia has gained significant acclaim, not to talk about China which is now tending towards a kind of paradise on earth with facilities! If I may ask, Is Engineering a Nigerian citizen? Its hard to answer, it appears that its adoption papers are still being processed and my information is that the process cannot be abridged! It started from the Executive and must pass through the upper and lower houses of legislature and finally sworn in by the Judiciary! Several attempts have been made in the past to shorten the process to no avail. I would like to take this opportunity to call on members of the Engineering family and genuine admirers, as well as all citizens to whose eternal benefit, Engineering citizenship will be, to come together with one heart and voice to prevail on the major players to shorten the process.”- Engr Alade Ajibola,
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| Middle-Engr. Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola, FNSE, NSE Past President and Co-Chairman, WECSI 2014 main Organizing Committee; Right – Engr. Mrs Margaret Oguntala, FNSE, Fmr Vice President Corporate Resources & Media; Left – Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, FNSE, Chairman Publicity Sub-Committee, WECSI 2014 Main Organising Committee, |
“What we claim to deserve must however be earned. Engineering is an intellectually based profession. We must therefore first continuously deepen and widen our intellectual base through periodic knowledge updates in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programmes to bring us to speed with current knowledge in our various specialized fields.”- Engr Alade Ajibola, 2010 Inaugural lecture
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| Ajibola conferred with fellowship of Nigerian Academy of Engineering |
Nigerian Engineers must imbibe the art of entrepreneurship and move to the market place, learn to hawk their skills, and manage their businesses! We must become more creative and innovative and consider ourselves as an integral part of the larger Society. ..Engr Ajibola
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| With Engr Emeka Ezeh, NSE Past President at FUTO |
“For the future to be better than even our dreams as a nation, our National policies on Engineering and Nigerian Engineers, must go through a complete ‘rennaissance’. The Nigerian Engineers must be the focus for development. If we fail to appreciate this principle we may learn later in the hard way!” – Engr Alade Ajibola,
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| Engr Ajibola along with current NSE President, Otis Anyaeji, Engr Kunle Mokuolu, Deputy President and others when they pay Minister of Works and Power, Mr Raji FAshola a Professional Visit in Abuja |
“It is time to legislate the Nigerian Content into projects in all sectors of the Nigerian Economy with well specified conditions to be met by all if we are looking at a future of sustainable development, industrial production and general prosperity.” Engr Alade Ajibola,
“It is a well known fact that the level of construction activities in a country is indicative of its rate of economic growth. It must be noted that the employment potential of the infrastructure sector is enormous and can only be ignored to our economic peril”- Engr Alade Ajibola
“We are worried that the placement of Engineers on Salary Grade level 08 step 4 on entry into the civil service has not taken into account the peculiarities associated with the training, work schedules and responsibilities of engineers. We note that other professionals like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants and Geologists are placed on enhanced entry points in the public service while this is not the case for engineers”
– Engr Alade Ajibola to the Salary Commission on the Wages of Engineers, 2011
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| With Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructures, Prince Adesegun Oniru, Engr Wasiu Olokunola, Engr Robbie James Owivry, Engr Saliu Lawal, Engr Omopeloye, Isqil Najim etc during Visit to Eko Atlantic to inspect Land reclamation process. (2010) |
“I say that it is time to consider and enact appropriate Competition Laws to discourage monopolies so as to reduce their negative effects on the economy and install the spirit of fair competition which is the hallmark of a free economy. This will also ensure an egalitarian society moving forward and remove social injustices.”- Engr Alade Ajibola, 2015
Engr Ajibola’s Advice to Government
I shall leave the following as challenges for Government to
consider for quick creative actions.
1. Develop International Economic Diplomacy more responsive to the permanent economic interests of Nigerians.
2. Consider involving all hands on deck, including diaspora Nigerians, who must work with home counterparts on solutions in all sectors of the economy, to advise the Government.
3. Consider making Engineering Resources and Engineers the key focus for rapid development.
4. Take a decision to challenge the Nigerian Engineering Community in all the developmental sectors.
5. Consider embracing Engineers into the main policy Hub of Government.
Engr Ajibola’s Advice to Engineers:
In the same vein, I shall leave the following challenges for the Engineering Community to;
1. Rediscover itself by quitting the rigid professional corners, most of us have caged ourselves into, against the mainstream of the society.
2. Reach out to other professionals and join with them to enhance achievements. The world operates in multidisciplinary moulds these days.
3. Learn the economic ‘street values’ by exploitingthe Enterprise highways, Securities Markets, Financial Alleys, Legal Bye-Streets etc. so as to be streetwise in playing in the Economic Arena for maximum benefits thereof.
4. Join politics to put your mouth where your money lies and stay permanently connected to the main Policy Hub!
Sir, as you reach this milestone, To God be the glory.
Compiled by Isqil Najim and Engr Adeniran Ibitoye AKA Kimolodemo