By Isqil Najim
As Nigeria grapples with its worse food crisis in decades, engineers under the umbrella of Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), will converge in Lagos to examine the challenges and proffer recommendations .
The Nigerian food crisis has created massive economic challenges that reverberated across the country. With food inflation at record high along with is negative impact on citizens’ well being, various stakeholders are examining the challenge from different angles in a bid to contribute their quota in helping the country navigate the difficult time.
As the National and sub-national governments dig deep into addressing the crisis, the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, NIEE under the leadership of Engr Engr. N. A. Ogunyemi has dedicated the theme: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA: A CALL FOR FIRMLY INTERVENTION BY ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS.” for the 2024 Annual Chief S.O. Fadahunsi Memorial Lecture.
The event will hold on Thursday 15th August 2024 at LAGOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, (2nd floor) located NO.10, DR. NURUDEEN OLOWOPOPO WAY,ALAUSA,IKEJA LAGOS STATE. It will begin at 11am but attendees are expected to be seated by 10.30am
Erudite professor Jacob Ademola Shonibare, a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers from Department of Chemical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife will be presenting the keynote address. The event will be chaired by the President of Nigerian society of Engineers, NSE, Engr Margaret Oguntala.
General Public, industry stakeholders and policy makers are cordially invited to grace the event..Attendance is free.
Instituted in memory of iconic late Engr Samuel Fadahunsi, the Memorial Lecture has become strategic event where stakeholders in environment converge to examine various issues affecting the country through the eyes of engineering.
Chief Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi of blessed memory who passed away at 94 years old on 12 August 2014, was one of Nigeria’s most accomplished and celebrated civil engineers. In a public career spanning over 50 years as a civil engineer, he left indelible impact in every sphere of human endeavours he ventured into.
Under his watch as the Chief Water Engineer, Western Nigeria in 60s, water schemes involving dam construction were executed in Oyo, Ogbomosho, Abeokuta and Ibadan. All these dams are still in existence today.
At the LEDB, the reclamation of Victoria Island, the demolition of slums in central Lagos, and the redevelopment of Iganmu in Lagos was intensified. He was also responsible for the development of FESTAC and Amuwo Odofin.
Chief Fadahunsi was involved in discussion that led to the formation of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE when young students led by Engr. Chief G. O. Aiwerioba of blessed memory, initiated the idea in London, UK. When they returned to Nigeria, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, was relaunched with Engineer Adeniyi Williams as President.
Chief S.O. Fadahunsi held the position of President in 1968-1969. Later, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, which registers all engineering practitioners, was established by statute with Chief S.O. Fadahunsi as No. 1 in its register and also as its President from 1977 to 1986.
Chief Fadahunsi was described in the following words by his old friend, the late Justice Kayode Eso, JSC, a celebrated jurist: ”He is, by every letter of the word, an aristocrat….but of the humblest piece of humanity. His kindness is proverbial….as he seeks to help others, a strange combination in a highly principled, soft spoken man”
A legend of his time, an astute and forthright de-tribalised Nigerian, a man of many parts, a great professional engineer, a man of principle and a deeply religious person, Chief Fadahunsi was highly regarded while alive and his memory celebrated every year by engineers.
Chief S.O. Fadahunsi, OFR, CON: Tribute to an exceptional leader and engineer
Profile of Late Engr (Chief) Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi FNSE, OFR, CON