ADDRESS BY ING. (MRS) CARLIEN BOU-CHEDID, ON THE OCCASION OF HER INVESTITURE ON 29th JANUARY 2021, AS THE 5th PRESIDENT OF FAEO AND THE 1st FEMALE PRESIDENT
Immediate Past President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO),
Eng. Martin Manuhwa
Past Presidents of FAEO
Executive Vice President of the World Federation of Engineers, Engr. M. B. Shehu
Executive Board Members and Regional heads of FAEO
Representatives of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, AU, UNESCO
FEIAP and Women in Engineering (WiE) of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations
Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of Professional Engineering Institutions and Engineering Organisations here present.
Eminent Engineers, Esteemed Members of the Professional Engineering Institutions and Engineering Organisations.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I appreciate the honour done to me, to Ghanaian Engineering and to Women in Africa and around the world by placing me in this position.
I am fortunate to have been surrounded throughout of my life by many distinguished engineers who by their example prepared the grounds for me to occupy this lofty position, and here let me salute the 50 engineers that held the position of President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers besides myself. I knew practically all of them and worked closely with many and they including my father, the late Past President Ing. EYS Engmann.
I would like to recognise also, my predecessor Presidents in FAEO, who through their dedication, hard work and actions, have within a short space of time brought FAEO to its current position of recognition. From its inception in 2012, President Martin Van Veelan of South Africa, helped to nurture a fledgeling organisation which had very few resources. President, Mustapha Shehu of Nigeria pursued International recognition for the organisation and succeeded in developing a partnership with the AU as outlined in an MOU. Under President Julius Riungu of Kenya, fundraising efforts paid off and FAEO began strengthening its Secretariat and governance structures. Finally, Eng. President Martin Manuwha the gentleman who has just handed over the running of FAEO to me, aside from continuing the work began by his predecessors, strategically developed partnerships with many international organisations all designed to help FAEO achieve its objectives. In addition, he ensured that all five regions of FAEO became active and are now united by the common aim of helping to engineer Africa’s development.
Visions of a better future for Africa include many areas that require the active involvement of engineering practitioners. The Sustainable Development Goals SDG’sfor example includes goals such as,
- GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
These are the obvious areas, but a closer look at some of the other goals will show that engineering inputs are also required to achieve them. For example, GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being and GOAL 4: Quality Education will require infrastructure and equipment that are the purview of engineering practitioners.
The AU’s blueprint for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse of the future, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, which takes a longer-term view of Africa’s development is no different. The desire for “shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration” for example, points to the need to ensure adequate infrastructure for water supply, sufficient and reliable energy to power homes and industries, and good transportation and communication links within and between countries in Africa. Indeed, when it comes to Communications, the Novel Corona Virus has thrust us, many totally unprepared, into the future and we have no choice but to play “catch up” with development of the infrastructure (ie. Broadband Infrastructure) that we need for communicating to school children, business colleagues etc. whilst staying physically distant. In this regard, the digital transformation project began by my predecessor, Engr Martin Manuwha
One development worthy of note, that is of great significance to FAEO is the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which came into effect 1st January 2021. AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects that have been identified by the AU as being key to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development. The harmonisation of standards in goods and services will be a critical requirement in the implementation of AfCFTA and FAEO is uniquely positioned to deliver on this in the engineering sector. Indeed, the success of AfCFTA is closely tied to the success of FAEO.
At FAEO, we are convinced that Africa cannot develop without engineering and we have positioned ourselves to be the organisation that drives the sustainable socio-economic development of Africa through engineering. To this end, we shall be working to promote and advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of society.
More specifically, during this period of my Presidency, FAEO will be engaged in activities in four main areas.
First, the Executive Council will be working to ensure that FAEO becomes an efficient and effective organisation that is a repository of knowledge on engineering in Africa and most representative of the profession and industry.
FAEO’s membership includes Professional Engineering Institutions, from African continents in every region and FAEO shall be engaged in helping to build their capacity. Since 2019, FAEO has also opened its doors to all engineering institutions operating in Africa and I would like to use this occasion to invite engineering organisations in energy, water, transportation, telecommunications, building, mining and all other relevant industries to join FAEO and participate in the process of harmonising standards across Africa.
Secondly, FAEO shall be working to develop a sufficient, diverse, inclusive and competent base of relevant engineering work-force and industries for Africa that engage in safe, ethical and sustainable practice.
FAEO believes that Africa must build its own indigenous engineering capacity. Large numbers of engineering practitioners will be needed in diverse fields to achieve the AU’s vision for Africa Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)
Diversity in the engineering workforce will also be promoted. We recognise the lack of participation of females in particular and other disadvantaged populations in the engineering workforce in Africa and the Women in Engineering Committee of FAEO (WiE) shall be leading the effort to turn things around. I hope that my election as the first female President of FAEO will help in this regard and serve as inspiration for many young females in Africa and indeed around the world.
To facilitate the mobility of the engineering workforce across national borders in Africa for the effective deployment of available skills, FAEO will work with partner organisations like FEIAP IEA, to establish unified standards across the continent for engineering education and professional engineering practice and registration. FAEO will promote the accreditation of programmes to internationally acceptable standards and levels and the development of the capacity of the African engineer to be globally competitive.
FAEO will also promote ethical leadership and professional conduct. The Anti-corruption Committee led by Rwanda will develop the necessary systems.
Third, FAEO shall be working to create awareness among leaders, policy makers and society at large, of the critical importance of engineering to the socio-economic development of Africa.
To this end, FAEO will take advantage of its relationship with the African Union to proactively engage governments and key stakeholders to guide public policy at national, regional and international level on matters related to engineering. FAEO will also encourage its professional engineering institutions to engage their political leaders, civil service, religious leaders, civil society and other professional bodies on the need for focus on engineering, together with science, technology and innovation. In addition, Professional Engineering Institutions of FAEO shall be asked to promote engineering and STEM amongst young persons, females and disadvantaged populations
Finally, FAEO will promote the advancement of knowledge in critical areas required for development in Africa and shall disseminate such knowledge to member organisations and relevant bodies like national governments and the African Union. This will be achieved through activities such as the promotion of research, publication of journals and technical papers and the hosting of conferences, seminars and symposia such as those held yesterday and today on Effective Project Management and Sustainable Power for Industrialisation of the African Continent which generated very useful discussions. We shall also use Awards such as those given to University dons during our recent Awards night that celebrated their contributions in developing solutions to the COVID pandemic.
The novel Covid-19 has taught us that no nation, organisation or organ, however powerful they may be, can exist effectively in isolation. We need one another to make our society a safer and a better place to live in. In FAEO, there is an African proverb that is often repeated that is very apt. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to far, go together. Let’s go far together and engineer the Africa We Want. There is work to do and I urge all member institutions to pay their dues and both to FAEO and WFEO so that Africa can take its rightful place on the World Stage.
I am confident that through the combined efforts and commitment of the FAEO Executive Council, the Membership, the Secretariat and our many friends and partners around the world including the African Union, the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific and with the help of the Almighty God, FAEO will be able to achieve what it has set out to do and more.
Before I conclude my address, I will like to express my appreciation to all those who have made this event possible and to all of you for gracing this occasion with your presence. I would like to make particular mention the IPP of FAEO, Engr. Martin Manuwha, the host President for this event, Ing. Alex Ayeh of Ghana and the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Ing. Dr Kwame Boakye and his team that helped to organise this event. My thanks also go the hardworking FAEO Executive Director and his team. Finally, I would like to give very special thanks to the Women in Engineering group of Ghana (WiNE) and in Africa who have been such a reliable support. This Presidency is dedicated to female engineers the over.
I will not be forgiven if I do not mention my family. Thank you all and a special mention for Zuriel and Zayda my grandchildren.
I thank you all for your attention