Inside the packed J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, within the prestigious University of Lagos; it was was a gathering of who is who in Nigerian engineering when the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Sworn in Professor Fola Lasisi as its 10th President.
Prof. Fola Lasisi, a pioneer Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo (1991-2000) and Creasent University, Abeokuta, (2005-2007) takes over from trailblazer Engr Mrs Joanna Olu Maduka, who is the first female Engineer to head the Academy and the first registered female Engineer in Nigeria.
Prof. Lasisi, a retired professor from University of Ife where he contributed immensely to academic and physical development of the university has vast expertise in Construction, Engineering Design and Structural Analysis spanning Academic, Industrial and managerial fields.
He was once the chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities (1996 – 1997). He was a Senior Consultant, ENPLAN Group and Director, Pilot Finance Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers(FNIAE), and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM).
A community leader, he has been honoured for helping young people acquire qualitative education and has served on boards of scholarship and programmes to help actualise the goal.
In his investiture speech, Prof Lasisi said that he would continue with programmes put in place by his predecessor.
“We will take off with a retreat by the new council to plan how to expand for more effectiveness.
“The immediate past president put up a programme for the development of a technology village, through a committee I chaired, and for continuity, this will take off in my term.
“The immediate past president put up a programme for the development of a technology village, through a committee I chaired, and for continuity, this will take off in my term.- Fola Lasisi
“There will be cooperation with all stakeholders in engineering, such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria(ACEN),” he said.
He said that without technology and engineering the country would not move forward.
Prof Lasisi called for cooperation with international and national academies to focus on three challenges which he listed as energy, infrastructure and food security.
According to him, quality engineering education is at the centre of these.
He said that a strategic plan would be used to determine short, medium and long term programmes of the academy.
The event also witnessed the induction of new Fellows of the Academy which are: Engr. Kashim Abdul Ali, mni; Engr. Prof John Ade Ajayi, Engr Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, Engr. Prof. Linus Asuquo, Engr Prof. Umar Dambata, Engr. Prof. Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Igwe, Engr Dr. Muhamad Jibrin, Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe, Engr Prof Chinedu Ositadinma Ogbuigwe, Engr Prof Bolaji Abdulfatai Sule, Engr Prof (Mrs.) Kehinde Adekunbi Taiwo, and Engr Solomon Uwaifo.
The new president Prof. Lasisi congratulated NAE fellows inducted and charged them to serve the academy selflessly.
“It it through selfless service that the academy can make a difference. The academy is ready to continue the pursuit of the great dreams of our founding fathers,” he said.
The investiture lecture had the theme: ”Current Development in Nigeria’s Water Resources Sector”.
MyEngineers congratulate the new president Prof. Fola Lasisi and the outgoing President Engr Olu Maduka whose tenure witnessed a host of accelerated development and innovative programmes.
Engr Olu Maduka, the outgoing President decorating the New President
The trailblazer, Engr Mrs Olu Maduka presenting her address before the former handing over ceremony.