By Isqil Najim
When Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), took the podium to present awards to outstanding engineers from across the country, Titilola Bright-Oridami was among the 261 distinguished individuals honored. This female engineer has made immense contributions to the water sector through the Lagos State Water Corporation.
The ceremony, which celebrated engineering excellence and contributions to national development, took place at the Los Angeles Event Center in Jahi, Abuja. It marked the elevation of Titilola Bright-Oridami, along with her peers, to the Society’s highest professional rank.
In her address, the NSE President and Chairman-in-Council, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, affirmed that “the elevation today is a recognition of their outstanding professional accomplishments and commitment to the advancement of engineering and, by implication, the technological development of our dear country, Nigeria.”
She emphasized that while this elevation celebrates their achievements, it also comes with additional responsibility. “This honor,” she said, “was not only a reward but a call to higher service,” . She urged the Fellows to leverage their knowledge to further shape Nigeria’s future, particularly in addressing persistent infrastructure challenges in energy, transportation, housing, and public services.
Like every engineer, who must specialize to apply their knowledge in contributing to their communities, Bright-Oridami chose what she deeply cares about: Water Engineering, the very essence of life. Not only did she choose this path, but she has also made indelible contributions to the sector, earning her the “Next Generation Water Leader” award by Global Water Leaders at the Global Water Summit 2019 in London. She has not looked back since, and with her elevation to FNSE status, there is certainly more to come from her as she takes on higher responsibilities.
Titilola, currently serving as the Head of Transformation and Strategy for the Lagos Water Corporation, also expertly manages the role of Business Development Expert, showcasing her dual prowess in strategic oversight and growth initiatives. She is a visionary leader in utility management with over two decades of experience.
Holding a Master’s in Water Resources Engineering, she is currently pursuing her doctorate in the same field, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to deepening her expertise for national and sub-national development within the water sector.
Her career is replete with notable achievements that have positively impacted Nigeria’s water sector. For instance, Titilola played a pivotal role in the collaboration between USAID and the Lagos State Government. This partnership culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and attracted approximately $40 million in funding for the Lagos Water Sanitation and Hygiene sector.
Beyond this, she has spearheaded numerous other successful collaborations with international bodies such as WaterAid, JICA, and the French Development Bank, consistently driving improvements within the Corporation.
Bright-Oridami has been integral to the design of water supply and distribution systems and has successfully managed several projects that significantly boosted water supply to various parts of the Lagos Metropolis.
Her leadership was particularly evident as the champion for the “Short Term Performance Improvement Program,” implemented by 2ML under the World Bank 2nd Urban Water Sector Reform Project. This initiative led to remarkable improvements within the Corporation, with her office diligently sustaining the project’s gains even after the departure of the consultants.
The success of this program earned the Lagos Water Corporation the “Recognition of Efforts to Ensure Operational Sustainability for Africa’s Largest City Award” at the Global Water Summit in Paris in April 2018.
Titilola’s individual contributions also garnered international acclaim when she was personally selected as the “Next Generation Water Leader” at the Global Water Summit 2019 in London, a clear acknowledgment of her visionary approach and global influence.
Her commitment to the broader engineering community is further demonstrated through her role as a Program Committee Member of the International Water Association’s (IWA) World Water Congress and Exhibition, alongside her receipt of several international scholarships and awards.
Titilola is a recipient of numerous international scholarships and awards. Without a doubt, with this new recognition, there is much more to come from her. She has shown us how high one can soar. Yet, the whisper of the wind carries a promise: her wings, now stronger, are destined for even grander skies, where new constellations of achievement await.
