By Isqil Najim
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Branch, held its 2026 Annual General Meeting at Karawan Village, Al Khobar, bringing together engineers, professionals, and members of the Nigerian Diaspora to celebrate a milestone and chart a bold course for the year ahead.
The event anchored at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), was held under the theme “Beyond the Blueprint: Where Engineering Meets Entrepreneurship.”
The highlight of the occasion was the inauguration of Engr. Dr. Ayuba Adegoke Adesina, as the second Branch Chairman — a moment that reinforces the continuity culture the NSE is known for. The ceremony was chaired by the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, who joined the proceedings virtually through his representative, the Vice President of Collaboration and Linkages, Engr. Ibrahim Aliyu Dutsinma.
Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), lent his voice to the occasion, as did Dr. Ibrahim Modibbo, the Acting Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Dr. Mohammed Bashir, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Saudi Arabia (NIDOKSA).
In his address, Dr. Adesina paid tribute to the immediate past Executive Council led by Engr. Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud, describing them as pathfinders who chose courage and sacrifice over comfort. Under that pioneering leadership, the branch was formally inaugurated on November 10, 2023 — the first NSE branch ever established in the Middle East.
Within just two years, membership had grown to 81 and the branch had earned recognition in the NSE Group Dynamics as one of the best-performing international branches despite the operational demands of working across borders.
“My IPC Sir, you have left behind a very big shoe — one that will not be easy to wear,” Dr. Adesina said, adding that “Leadership is not about erasing the past; it is about honoring it, strengthening it, and taking it further.”
The new Chairman told members he had arrived at a conscious decision — to stop asking what the Society could do for him and to start asking what he could do for it. “This is my own way of giving back to the profession that gave me a voice, and to the country that invested in my education, shaped my values, and made me the engineer I am today,” he said.
Dr. Adesina presented what he described not as a chairman’s personal agenda, but as a collective roadmap — an 8-Point Strategic Outlook for the 2026 term.
At the top of the list is a formal partnership with the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), through which the branch aims to open professional development pathways, integrate members into SCE forums, and simplify registration and certification processes for Nigerian engineers working in the Kingdom.
In addition, the administration intends to deepen its relationship with the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh, establishing structured cooperation on professional and national-interest matters, and exploring the possibility of a physical liaison presence to improve visibility and coordination.
On the knowledge front, Dr. Adesina committed to rebranding the branch’s technical sessions to draw more meaningfully on both industry and academic expertise. A Branch Journal is also planned, which the administration hopes will position NSE-EPB as a recognised hub of engineering knowledge in the region. Membership growth remains equally central to the agenda, with outreach drives set to extend beyond Saudi Arabia and across the wider Middle East.
The new chairman also spoke to the internal architecture of the branch itself, pledging to institutionalise best practices in governance, reporting, and digital systems — measures intended to ensure the branch’s continuity regardless of who holds office at any given time.
Structured diaspora engagement forms another plank of the agenda: members will be actively channelled into NSE national committees, technical panels, and policy advisory roles, creating a formal bridge between the diaspora and national development efforts back home.
The administration also pledged to make the welfare and professional advancement of young engineers a core priority — not a footnote. And on the financial side, Dr. Adesina promised prudent management, diversified funding, and full transparency to secure the branch’s long-term operational health.
Beyond institutional matters, the AGM also saw the presentation of a Multi-Impact Legacy Project — a community-oriented initiative that reflects the branch’s sense of responsibility to society. The project encompasses solar power interventions for emergency and maternity centres as well as university study facilities; educational support through academic awards and examination sponsorships; and welfare assistance for orphanages and correctional centres. The session also included the presentation of awards and recognitions to members and sponsors whose contributions have been instrumental in the branch’s journey so far.
No chairman, Adesina said, could achieve these goals alone, and no executive council could deliver in isolation. He called on every member to step forward — not as a spectator, but as a partner. “Together, let us build on a strong foundation, strengthen it with unity, and elevate it with purpose. May history record that when it was our turn to lead, we served with integrity, unity, and patriotism,” he said.
The executive council sworn in alongside Dr. Adesina consists of Engr. Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi Muazu, FNSE, as Vice Chairman; Engr. Dr. Muizz Oladapo Sanni-Anibire as General Secretary; Engr. Abubakar Danjuma Maiwada as Assistant General Secretary; Engr. Dr. Babatope Omotayo Kayode as Technical Secretary; and Engr. Dr. Babatunde Abiodun Salami, FNSE, as Assistant Technical Secretary. The financial affairs of the branch will be managed by Engr. Dr. Zainab Yunusa, FNSE, as Financial Secretary and Engr. Dr. Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed as Treasurer. Engr. Dr. Nasirudeen Olalekan Ogunlakin takes charge as Publicity Secretary while Engr. Mohammed Awwal Suleiman serves as Membership Secretary. The council is supported by three ex-officio members: Engr. Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud, FNSE; Engr. Dr. Adeshina Adewale Adewumi; and Engr. Olumide Bola Akinsanmi.
Are you in Saudi Arabia, contact Publicity Secretary, NSE Saudi Arabia Eastern Province Branch
Email: [email protected]Â or visit Website: www.nsesaudi.org.ng