To a Builder of Nations: Engr. Adekunle Adebajo, FNSE, FNIStructE, FAEng. 21st President, ACEN | Chairman/CEO, Ove Arup & Partners Nigeria,
by MyEngineers
There are engineers who build structures. And then there are engineers who build nations. There are engineers who build men—and there are rare engineers who build all three.
Yesterday, the 4th day of June, Nigeria’s engineering community gathered to celebrate a man who has spent more than four decades doing exactly that. Hats off to Engr. Adekunle Adebajo.
Engr. Adebajo has served Ove Arup & Partners Nigeria Limited since 1987, rising to become its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Established in Nigeria since 1951, the firm has been a cornerstone of national development, playing a key role in shaping West Africa’s built environment. Under his leadership, Arup has engineered iconic structures such as the Civic Centre, Civic Towers, and the National Stadium, alongside various critical roadworks and major industrial developments.
To lead an institution of such massive international reputation for many years is a testament to exceptional engineering capability, leadership, and business acumen. But to lead it with unyielding distinction, integrity, and an eye toward the future—that is the true mark of Engr. Kunle Adebajo.
Great men do not only build roads and bridges; they build institutions.
This is telling from his tenure as the sixth Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, where his vision led to a profound shift in organizational culture. He introduced mandatory 30-minute technical sessions at professional gatherings and launched career fairs to provide essential guidance to young engineers who entered the field without a clear roadmap.
On February 12, 2026, Engr. Kunle Adebajo was invested as the 21st President of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), the umbrella body of consulting engineering firms in Nigeria established 55 years ago. This milestone follows a stellar trajectory of leadership, having previously served with distinction as the Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch and as President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE).
He brought his signature vision to ACEN, prioritizing a clear mission: to position consulting engineers as indispensable partners in Nigeria’s development—moving beyond the role of technical service providers to becoming trusted advisors, policy influencers, and champions of sustainable growth.
Over the years, his wisdom has manifested in many of his proclamations, such that any category of engineer can find a valuable takeaway whenever he speaks.
Adebajo is not a man who embraces the status quo, nor is he a man who breaks things for the sake of it when they are working. He believes that engineers and engineering must move with the times and continuous development, never becoming stagnant.
As he once said while addressing senior engineers comprising the who’s who of engineering leadership at his investiture ceremony: “We cannot continue assuming that what we have done in the past is okay for today.”
That is vintage Adebajo—a testament to his professional longevity and adaptability in a sector where he has successfully and seamlessly integrated new technology, fostered a progressive culture, and evolved through decades of rapid industry changes.
Just weeks after his investiture as ACEN President, Engr. Adebajo was named among the 2026 cohort of Distinguished Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering—one of the highest professional honors accorded to a Nigerian engineer, in recognition of his tremendous contributions, leadership, and technical excellence over the decades.
Engr. Adebajo is a mentor’s mentor and a blessing to anyone who comes under his tutelage. His passion for young engineers’ development and his willingness to fight for them is not just talk; he walks the talk at the establishments he heads. At his firm, even a single year of experience makes young professionals feel as though they have gained a decade’s worth of growth.
In a recent radio appearance reported by MyEngineers, Engr. Adebajo, who has consistently driven advocacy for young professionals’ real-world experience, offered an analogy that cuts to the heart of his philosophy: “You need things to cook and requirements to serve—that is how you get experience. You don’t just sit in a room reading cookery books and think you are a good cook.”
“Once you’ve been resilient and gained the right training, there is nothing more fulfilling than engineering,” he said.
A proud Secondary School product of the International School Ibadan (ISI), Engr. Adebajo obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Technology) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wales in 1982, followed by a Master of Science degree in Structural Steelwork from the University of London, and the Diploma of Imperial College (DIC) in 1986.
He is a Registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a Chartered Engineer of the Engineering Council, United Kingdom, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and a Fellow and past President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers.
Over a career spanning more than forty-three years, Engr. Adebajo has built an enviable record in the design, management, and delivery of complex civil, structural, industrial, and infrastructure projects within Nigeria and internationally. His work has covered urban development, industrial facilities, breweries, data centres, energy efficiency projects, transportation infrastructure, and numerous high-profile commercial developments.
Beyond project delivery, Engr. Adebajo’s legacy is strongly defined by service to professional institutions and capacity development. He has served the Nigerian Society of Engineers in numerous strategic roles, including Chairman of the Ikeja Branch, Chairman of Codes and Standards Committees, Chairman of Engineering Ethics Committees, and Secretary of the Prevention and Failure Investigation and Analysis Committee.
As President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) from 2003 to 2005, he navigated the thorny matter of recurrent building collapses in the country, and he now chairs the Ethics and Discipline Committee, is a member of the Board of Fellows and is an examiner for the mature route to Fellowship.
A defining hallmark of Engr. Adebajo’s career is his passion for mentorship and training. For decades, he has contributed to the development of young engineers through structured training schemes, professional examinations, lectures, and industry seminars. He is also widely respected for his public advocacy on structural safety and building integrity.
Kunle holds pivotal roles in several other organizations, including serving as a member of the Governing board of the Ajayi Crowther University, the Diocesan Engineer for the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Lagos West Diocese, and a long serving Governing Board member of the Corona Schools Trust Council.
Today, we celebrate a man whose encouragement and kindness have bolstered many professionals who have now become masters of their own trade, and many young engineers still under his guidance. We celebrate a man whose hands have helped shape the infrastructure across the country, whose mind has helped shape the policies of a nation, and whose heart has helped shape the careers of a generation.
We wish you sound health and a very Happy Birthday, Sir. The profession salutes you. The nation hails you.