The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Warri Branch held a Public Lecture on Friday, 13th March, 2026, themed “The Role of Engineering in National Development and Security.”
The event was broadcast live on RIZE FM 106.7 and simultaneously streamed via Zoom, enabling a broad and diverse audience — comprising engineers, other professionals, students, and members of the general public — to engage actively in the discourse.
The programme was organised under the leadership of the NSE Warri Branch Chairman, Engr. Chief Benjamin Esi, whose administration has consistently championed professional development and knowledge sharing within the engineering community.
The lecture featured a distinguished panel of seasoned professionals: Engr. Asa Pokima; Engr. Benjamin Ozobeme; and Engr. Victor Olokpa.
The session was moderated by Engr. Queen Uche Chigbo, Vice Chairman of the NSE Warri Branch, whose coordination ensured effective communication and seamless outreach throughout the event.
The panelists examined the strategic centrality of engineering to national progress, covering infrastructure development, technological innovation, energy systems, transportation networks, economic growth, and national security.
They also used the platform to inspire younger engineers and students to remain steadfast in their pursuit of innovation, professional excellence, and ethical practice as essential contributions to the nation’s advancement.
The Branch equally emphasised one of its core mandates — bridging the knowledge gap through training and consultancy services — and encouraged the public to visit its Secretariat on Airport Road, Warri, to take advantage of these offerings.
An highlight of the programme was the live phone-in segment, during which listeners called in to ask questions and contribute to the conversation.
Responding to some of the issues raised, Engr. Benjamin Ozobeme, identified the adverse impact of government policies and regulatory constraints as key obstacles to the growth of engineering practice in Nigeria.
He called for more enabling policies and deeper collaboration between government and engineering professionals to drive sustainable national development.
The Branch also used the occasion to send a strong message to the public: that engaging qualified, licensed engineers in project delivery is not merely advisable but essential. “We encouraged the public to use professionals in their projects because engineers design with safety in mind and also for ease of maintenance, instead of patronising quacks,” the Branch stated.
The NSE Warri Branch reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to professional engagement, knowledge exchange, and the delivery of engineering solutions that meaningfully advance national development.
The Warri Branch public lecture took place within a broader national conversation on engineering and security that the NSE has been actively driving in 2026.
Earlier in March, NSE President Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu used the Society’s World Engineering Day Webinar to call on engineers to develop smart solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, warning that without urgent intervention, safety deficits would continue to undermine GDP growth, foreign direct investment, job creation, infrastructure sustainability, and public trust in governance.
The Warri Branch lecture reinforced this national position at the grassroots level, bringing the conversation directly to engineers and citizens in the Niger Delta region.