Transformational Leadership of Rachel Ugye, the first female Chair of NSE Kaduna Branch

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When Engr. Mrs Rachel Ugye became the first female chairman of Kaduna Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, not many doubted her credentials as someone capable of leaving her name in the sand of time. But she did just that, despite the pandemic that swept across the country, and the world at large, writes, Isqil Najim.

Despite her tenure cutting through the Global Pandemic, Rachel still managed to leave her footprints in the sand of time. Her biggest legacy can be said to be that she gave the Branch electoral integrity and transparency through adoption of an e-Voting system in electing her predecessor. This will be the first Branch of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE to adopt it at Local level.

In her valedictory speech, she attributed her success to teamwork and supports of elders. Such is her humility! Yet, for a woman who has the honour of being elected as the first female chairman, Rachel is no stranger to Leadership as she has proven herself at national level among Mechanical Engineers where she held many ranking postings before leaving the country to study at University of Cape Town, in South Africa.

On her return, she plunged back into services once again; along with her work as a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, where she lecture in the Mechanical Engineering department.

Her determination to contribute her quota to engineering body paid off when she was elected by the Branch members to pilot the affairs of the Branch for two years.

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Thanking the Elders and members for the trust and confidence reposed in her, Ugye considered her services to the Nigerian Society of Engineers as an opportunity to gain valuable experiences.

Looking back, she said that the few achievements recorded came through because of combined efforts, not our efforts alone.

Apart from the regular activities of the Branch that were fully executed during her tenure, the Executive Committee under her leadership introduced some programmes and collaborated with some organizations. Some of which are:

• Yearly retreat/management training for Branch and Chapter Executive Committees.
• Registration of Branch’s Cooperative society called “KADA ENGINEERS COOPERATIVE”.
• Yearly lecture and registration of NDA final year Cadets of the Engineering Faculty.
• Collaboration with the College of Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic on yearly
Engineering Conference.
• Collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Zonal Office Kaduna, where lists
of some of our members and companies are submitted for training.
• Collaboration with Kaduna State Roads Agency KADRA, Federal Polytechnic Oko and NASENI to actualize the Branch’s dream Secretariat Building.

What is more, under her leadership, the Branch initiated a plan toward establishing student units in NDA and Kaduna polytechnic (Degree offering students). Similarly her administration commenced the upgrade of membership Database.

As part of the bid to have befitting secretariat for the Branch, far-reaching efforts were make toward making the vision a reality in the nearest future. Ugye strongly believe that my successor will sustain tempo and build on it.

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Her administration also maintained the Engr. B. K Mohammed’s Annual Lecture, while working to ensure that the long-awaited Engr. Armiya’u Bi-annual Lecture will be held this year. Preparations have started to hold this Lecture in the first week of November 2022.

Despite many good news, Engr Ugye, narrated some negative news recorded under her tenure. One of the finest civil engineers, Engr, Dr F.O.P Oriola of NDA Kaduna passed away. Insecurity in Kaduna state and environs affected many of the Branch’s activities but the Branch stayed strong in the eyes of the storm and still recorded successes.

Advising her successor, Engr Abubakar Jumaar, PhD, she left behind secret for her leadership scent, “3M of Management Principles, Man, Money and Machine.”

She described Man which includes men, women, boys and girls, old and young (the human resources) as the most difficult to manage. Money can be manipulated or stored as the manager pleases while machines can be programmed, operated, serviced or even scrapped as we wish. But man cannot be manipulated or scrapped like a machine.

“Therefore, a lot of patience, humility, maturity and respect will be needed from you to be able to manage people generally and NSE Kaduna Branch engineers in particular. I wish you very well in your tenure and pray that God should grant you the grace to take Kaduna Branch to higher heights.” She said

“Finally, let me echo Saint Paul in saying that “I have run with perseverance and have finished the race”. Whether I have finished the race successfully or not is not for me to say – I will leave it to my Fellows and colleagues to be the judge.” She concluded.

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Born to late Late Rev. and Atese I. I. Ugye from Mbayongo, Vandeikya LGA of Benue State, Rachel Serumun Ugye hold National Diploma and Higher National Diploma from Kaduna Polytechnic before proceeding to Federal University of technology, Minna for Postgraduate study before heading to Cape Town University South Africa where she bagged a Masters in Sustainable Energy Engineering. She currently undertaking her PhD at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

Engr. Rachel has been a lecturer in the department of Mechanical Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna from 1999 to date. She has also worked in Private Sectors such as Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Breweries PLC and Mobil Nigeria Limited.
A COREN registered engineer, she is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), a member of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC). She has served all the associations in meritorious capacities over the years.

 

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