By Isqil Najim
The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE), Engr Margaret Oguntala has called on the Engineers nationwide rally together to support the NSE’s Strategic agenda; just as she was conferred with the Fellowship Award of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) by the Engr Seun Faluyi led Council.
This was at the investiture of the new National Chairman of the Institution, Engr Oluseun Faluyi held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos on Thursday, February 22, 2023
Oguntala, who is the first female President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE) congratulated the new leadership under Engr Seun Faluyi and members of the institution just as she showed praises on its successive leaderships for always aligning the Division’s programmes in tandem with the ideals and objectives of our Society. She reiterated the need for all NSE Divisions and Branches to key into her administration agenda to collectively achieve the result as an engineering community.
Oguntala, highlighted the strategic agenda of her administration, Margaret Oguntala Presidency and Strategic Agenda, MOPSA. MOPSA rest on five strong pillars. They are, Membership development, Improving, Intergovernmental/ Industry/Academia collaborations, Re-enforcing international relations mechanisms, Re-imaging the NSE for better publicity and governance structure and Improved community impact. All these are targeted toward supporting the Engineers and the National Development.
She informed audience that her administration have since hit the ground running in a bid to achieve the goals.
State of the Nation: Food, Climate Change and AI
Speaking on the theme of the Investiture Lecture, Oguntala spoke on state of the Nation as regard the National Food Crisis, Climate and and rises of Artificial Intelligence. She said that Sustainable national growth, advancement and productivity are increasingly dependent on improved capacity in all spheres, which include the deployment of artificial intelligence in crucial fields such as safety engineering. She added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will come in handy to help tackle some, if not all, of these challenges. Therefore, there is not a more appropriate time for this discourse than now.
“We will all agree that this lecture is coming at a period when we are experiencing a gamut of challenges in different sectors of our economy – financial, agricultural, medical and even engineering – all with challenges that have direct underlying safety issues.” Engr Magaret Oguntala
She hinted that the NSE national Engineering Conference that will hold between the 18th and 24th of November, 2024 will also equally address the critical challenges. She urged members to be prepared for the event and join other development stakeholdersto contribute their quota.
NSE Membership Publication:
Oguntala reminded engineers in that the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE is due to update the National membership Database of its members. In her words. “Let me remind our members about the notice of publication of the list of financially up-to-date members in national newspapers which was circulated last week. This is a fitting opportunity to remind you that March 1, 2024 remains the date of publication” She urged members who have not updated their membership status to contact the Headquarters by email via [email protected] for guidance.
In his address, the Guest Speaker, Engr Adeyemi Adetunji, who is the former Executive Vice President, Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd., said safety should be a watchword in all branches and arms of engineering because engineers were problem solvers. He called for more focus on safety across sectors of the economy for safety and preservation of lives, property and the environment.
“And knowing that it is only through focus and perseverance in “doing” that will deliver results. The NISafetyE must set for itself quarterly goals and track performance on same. Nigeria needs you all as we cannot afford any more loss of life and scarce resources through failure in any Engineering Safety-related activity,” he said.
Newly inaugurated chairman, Faluyi, unveiled out his administration plans toward under the fiver Pillars- IGNITE which aims at focusing on increased financial resilience, organisational, inspiring stakeholders engagement and nurturing, Continuing development learning, growth and development.
Earlier in his address, the outgoing National Chairman of the Institution, Engr Akaninyene Ekong, recalled the numerous achievements of his administration. FRom increasing membership, chapters and moore corporate supports and student chapters. He expressed optimism that the new National Chairman, Engr Seun Faluyi, is well positioned to take the Institution to greater height.
The event was attended by many dignitaries including the chairman Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, the Chairman Petrolog Nigeria Limited Dr Vincent Ebuh, the Registrar Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Prof Ademola Adisa Bello, Vice Chairman Membership, Engr Rose Makadi, MD Offshore Dimensions Limited, Mrs Joan Faluyi, Immediate past National Chairman of NIMechE Engr Funilade Akingbagbohun, MD Krestal laurel Nigeria, Engr Dideolu Falobi, former Past president of NSE, Engr Olorunfemi Ademola, FNSE
