By Isqil Najim
A Past Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Valerie Agberagba, has urged the NSE to leverage the intellectual capital of its diaspora to solve domestic challenges and project Nigerian engineering brilliance onto the world stage.
Engr. Agberagba highlighted this while delivering a keynote address titled, “The NSE Global Network: Standardizing and Exporting Innovation” at a public lecture organized by the NSE Saudi Arabia branch (Eastern Province) on September 30, 2025.
Engr. Agberagba traced the NSE’s history to what she described as “the legacy of nation-building.” She recounted its establishment as a pressure group by a small cadre of young Engineers in London in 1958, before its eventual incorporation in Nigeria.
From Local Success to Global Leadership
Engr. Agberagba, who herself served as a Vice President at the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) from 2016 to 2019, noted that the NSE has already moved beyond its borders. She cited the current President of WFEO, Engr. Mustafa Balarabe Shehu, an NSE Past President, who is the first black person to hold the prestigious position.
She commended the collaborative spirit displayed by Nigerian Engineers through knowledge-sharing engagements across Africa. “We built a lot of collaborative communities with Kenya, with Ghana, with Zambia, Uganda, and so many other countries. Last year we were in Angola, and we didn’t just go there to make up the numbers; we also shared knowledge.”
Engr. Agberagba also presented a detailed roadmap for overhauling the NSE’s professional development framework. She advocated for the creation of a unified mission statement for all NSE global branches—from the Eastern Province to Houston, Canada, London, Manchester, and Glasgow.
Standardizing Professional Excellence
She praised COREN’s efforts toward getting Nigeria to become a Provisional Signatory of the Washington Accord and urged the completion to full Signatory. She said this would grant global recognition to Nigerian engineering degrees and enable registered members to work in any of the Accord’s signatory countries.
She however said that signing the accord is just the beginning. The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes and the process for license renewal must be urgently harmonized with global best practices. She called for a system where professional engineers must attain a minimum number of CPD units—in line with international models—to maintain their competence.
Exporting Innovation: The E-Exhibition Mandate
Engr. Agberagba also called for urgent need to translate local academic research and innovation into marketable, problem-solving solutions. She proposed the creation of a Research E-Exhibition—an online platform dedicated to showcasing groundbreaking Nigerian projects in critical sectors such as power, energy, and agriculture. This will connect local researchers with grants, mentorship, and marketing support, and facilitate progression from pilot projects to patented, marketable solutions.
According to her, recognition will not come through political lobbying, but through tangible results.
Reverse Brain Drain and Structured Engagement
To facilitate a true exchange of knowledge, Engr. Agberagba proposed a detailed Diaspora Knowledge Exchange Programme aimed at a structured “reverse brain drain.” Other key suggestions she made include: Full utilization of the NSE membership to enhance professional networking; Creation of vibrant online engineering communities for sector-specific brainstorming, that allow members to share challenges and collaboratively find solutions; and Establishing a structured mentorship programme to match local engineers with global experts.
The Currency of Networking
Engr. Agberagba advocated principle of collective responsibility, where the NSE’s global networks serve as a powerful, reciprocal force that offers members access to global knowledge and world-class mentorship.
For diaspora members, this will provide “a direct connection to your roots” and the profound opportunity to “give back to your community and leave a lasting impact.” For Nigeria, this could lead to “accelerated development,” the “retention of talent,” and attracting foreign investment tailored to support local innovative solutions.
The former WFEO Vice President urged every NSE member, both at home and abroad, to play an active part in this mission, stressing that the Society’s influence on the world stage will be directly proportional to the quality of its internal connections and the generosity of its members.
“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity. Let’s be generous with our knowledge. Let’s be generous with our connections. Let’s be generous with our network in all these provinces, and let’s bring it to Nigeria to create an opportunity where ideas and opportunities will be flowing within Nigerian communities.
“As engineers, let’s not see our membership as just a necessity. Let’s see it as a platform for being part of professionals that will impact our communities.
“Help to build a pool of talented young engineers with a global mindset that we can be proud of. These young engineers are looking for innovative solutions.
“Let’s make our Nigeria Society of Engineers greater. Let’s think of our network. Let’s build our network. Share your network with others. If we connect ourselves, we’ll be building a genuine relationship that will be yield mutual benefits.” She concluded.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Eastern Province Branch, Engr. Ayuba Adesina welcomed members to the gathering. He challenged the common engineering mindset that equates success solely with technical prowess, complex equations, and long, sleepless nights. Instead, he highlighted the indispensable role of networking.
Prominent Engineers, both from Nigeria and diaspora attended the event.