A Nigerian engineer, Mustafa Balarabe Shehu has made history in Prague as he officially becomes the 17th President at the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, WFEO during the 7th World Engineers Convention (WEC) 2023, and the General Assembly event in Prague, Czech Republic. By this feat, he become the first Black person from Africa to achieve this, writes, Isqil Najim.
The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) is the international organization for the engineering profession. Founded in 1968, under the auspices of UNESCO, WFEO brings together national engineering institutions from over 100 nations and represents more than 30 million engineers.

Engr MB Shehu, an electrical engineer is a former President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Federation of African Engineering Organisations. He is a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers and Nigerian Academy of Engineering. He will be taking over from Prof Jose Vieira and work with other council members to consolidate on WFEO achievements and take WFEO to higher level.
This achievement is significant in many ways for Africa and Nigeria as a whole.
In recent years, Africa has become a key focus of WFEO with many actionable programmes specifically created for African sustainable development. from food security to capacity building, young engineers development and many others. Shehu therefore, becomes the symbol and face of of Africa engineering as he leads the organization as its 17th President.
Leadership of Nigerian Engineering community were in Prague to withness the event. Some of them are: COREN President, Engr. Prof. S.Z. Abubakar, FNSE, FAEng;; NSE President, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil, FNSE; NSE Deputy President, Engr. Mrs. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE; Past President of COREN, Engr. Kashim Abdul Ali, FNSE, FAEng, mni; Past President of NSE, Engr. Chief Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola, FNSE, FAEng; Past President of NSE, Engr. Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, FNSE, FAEng; Executive Secretary of NSE; NSE Vice President (North Central) Engr. Joseph Sunday Adebayo, FNSE, FNIEEE, FNISET,.
Others are: the Immediate past President of COREN, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, FNSE, FAEng, MFR, in Prague. Engr. Dr. Aisha Umar FNSE, FNICE (ACR, WCCE), Engr. Dr. Bola Mudasiru, FNSE, FNICE (National Secretary General, NIHTE), and Engr. Dr. AbdulRasheed Babalola (NSE Exco Member).

Meanwhile, Eng Seng Chuan Tan from Singapore has been elected as the President-Elect of WFEO during its General Assembly held in Prague, Czech Republic, on 14 October, hosted by the Czech Association of Scientific and Technical Societies. He will deputize the President until end of his tenure.
Born on 12th April 1963 to a Veterinary Officer Alhaji Shehu Salihu and Hajiya Rakiya, both of blessed memory. He had his primary education in Kano before getting into the prestigious Government College Kaduna in September 1975 under the Kano State Government scholarship.
On finishing Secondary School he was admitted into the School of Basic Studies, of the Ahmadu Bello University. He was thereafter absorbed in the same University to study Electrical Engineering degree which he completed successfully in 1985 graduating with BSc in Electrical Engineering.
Engr. MB Shehu and the New executive of WFEO after the first Council meetingEngr. Mustafa Balarabe Shehu, a former President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations, FAEO as well as the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He is also the founder and Chairman of MBS Engineering Limited (established 1994), one of the foremost engineering firms in Nigeria, with offices in Kano and Abuja. He has over 37 years of experience in electrical power engineering, project management, administration, and leadership.
His working career started with the Lagos Thermal Station Egbin in Lagos under the National Electric Power Authority from 1986 to 1988. He then got appointed by the Kano State Rural Electricity Board in 1988 as Senior Engineer and rose to the position of Assistant Director at which position, he resigned in 1998.
Thereafter, joined hands with colleagues and started operating as Managing Director of MBS Engineering Limited, an engineering firm involved in power systems designs, building services, renewable energy technologies, environmental engineering, cost engineering and project management amongst other services. The company serves wide range of clients from Federal to State Governments, Ministries and MDAs to Educational Institutions, Industries and private sector organizations.
He participates actively in the services and activities of national, professional, and business organizations. It is in these regards; he holds (held) the following positions: President, World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) 14 Oct. 2023- Date; President-Elect of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) March 2022- 13 Oct. 23; President, Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO)- 2015-2016; President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)- 2012- 2013; Board Member, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company- May 2020-Date; Chairman, Technical Board of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Institute, Jalingo (a subsidiary of NASENI)- March 2022-Date; Member, Governing Council, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, -2012-2013; Member, National Refineries Special Taskforce, -2012; Member, Kano State Energy Committee, -2009 -2011; Co-Chair, Infrastructure Policy Commission of the NESG- 2012-2013; Deputy President, Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture, (KACCIMA)- 2013-2016 to mention but few.
He is a recipient of over 50 Awards and Honors from National and International Engineering Institutions, educational institutions as well as community-based organizations.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria and a Foreign Fellow of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology.
Shehu is married with children and maintains a very happy family.
