ADDRESS BY ENGR. PROF. UMAR GARBA DANBATTA, FNSE, FAEng AT HIS INVESTITURE AS THE 14ᵀᴴ PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
Let me start by thanking Allah, the Almighty for making this event a reality. I stand before you today, with a deep sense of responsibility and profound humility. I am most honoured by the trust you have placed in me to serve as the 14th President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. I pay tribute to my predecessors, including the immediate past President, Engr. Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello, for their visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.
Let me also appreciate the Board of Trustees of this our great Academy for deeming it fit to nominate me as Vice-President two years ago. By tradition and the constitution of our dear Academy, today, I am to take over the mantle of leadership of the Academy, the apex and elite engineering professional group in Nigeria, for the next two years. I therefore want to extend my sincere appreciation to, and thank everybody that contributed in making this possible.
These include the members of Board of Trustees (BoT), past Presidents, Board of Directors, members of the Council, members of the Executive Committee and indeed all Fellows of the Academy for this rare and privileged opportunity as your new President. I believe that with your support, we shall take the Academy to greater heights and ultimately contribute towards the development of mankind.
The Academy
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, as most of us might have known, is the apex and elite corps of the engineering profession in Nigeria. It comprises very senior Nigerian and foreign engineering professionals in diverse areas of engineering in both academics, consulting, public service and engineering businesses. We are spread across almost all the engineering disciplines, example: Electrical, Telecommunications, Computer, Civil, Mechanical, Agricultural, Chemical, Marine, Mining, Nuclear, and Aeronautical engineering.
The foremost objective of the Academy is advancing and pursuing excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation. The Academy offers leadership on engineering and technological issues, including emerging technologies. It engages and supports comprehensive researches and studies on relevant subjects thereby contributing valuable insights on developmental policies to the various arms of governments.
There are currently 196 Fellows of the Academy who are accomplished Engineers and are committed to placing their extensive wealth of experiences at the disposal of our great nation, Nigeria.
Vision for the Tenure: A Four-Point Agenda
The 2024 to 2028 approved Strategic Plan of the Academy focuses on transforming engineering education, revitalizing technical education/workforce, and fostering high-level policy advocacy to drive national industrialization and infrastructure development. Key initiatives include strengthening the “Triple Helix” (government, industry, academia) partnership, promoting engineering business, and utilizing expert knowledge to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit. Key Strategic Focus Areas of the plan include:
Revitalizing Engineering Education: A major focus is on diversifying skills for engineers, emphasizing practical, project-based learning, and tackling the acute shortage of technical skills and artisans by encouraging technical/vocational education.
Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy: The Academy is pushing for a robust, long-term national policy on infrastructure maintenance to combat decay.
Engineering Policy & Advocacy: The NAEng is positioning itself as a premier think-tank providing technical input on public policies regarding engineering, manufacturing, and technology.
Industrialization & Manufacturing: The strategy aims to promote local engineering manufacturing, reversing the inverted pyramid of engineering personnel (too many engineers, too few technicians).
Strategic Partnerships (Quadruple Helix): Enhancing collaboration between the Academy, academia, government, and the media to ensure evidence-based policymaking.
My dear colleagues and esteemed guests, I wish to assure you that we shall vigorously implement the strategic plan by the re-prioritization of actions, mentorship and inclusivity.
At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to reiterate that my administration will steadily focus on accelerating the impact of the Academy through the following 4 – point agenda:
Elevated Policy Advocacy: We shall be proactive. The Academy will strengthen our advisory role and engagement with the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure that policy formulations are backed by sound engineering data and innovation. We will actively promote home-grown technology solutions that will align with the national agenda, with proper solutions to challenges such as inadequate power supply, enhanced broadband penetration, climate change and pollution.
Academia-Industry Synergy: The “town and gown” gap remains a challenge. We will enhance partnerships between academia and industry to ensure our curricula produce graduates with the practical, technical, and entrepreneurial skills required for modern industry.
Mentorship and Capacity Building: The future of Nigerian engineering depends on our young professionals. We will create platforms to mentor young engineers and ensure that the next generation is prepared to lead. We shall also enhance professional development opportunities for members through workshops, conferences, and research grants.
Collaboration with the Engineering Family: The Academy does not operate in a vacuum. We shall foster stronger collaborations with other engineering families like the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Universities Commission (NUC) and all other stakeholders.
We will work together to enhance the professional standing of engineers and improve the quality of engineering services in Nigeria. We shall also strengthen ties with global engineering academies and organizations such as the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), Royal Academy of Engineering of the UK, National Academy of Engineering of the United States of America, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and their equivalents in other parts of the globe.
We shall also seek collaboration with Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), and the World Federation of Engineering Organization (WFEO), where our own, Engr. Mustapha Balarabe Shehu, FNSE, FAEng, immediate past President, become the first Sub-Saharan African to hold the position of its President.
Call to Action
To my fellow Engineers, I call for your unwavering support. The Academy needs your collective expertise, experience, and commitment to excellence. Let us move from advocacy to action, creating sustainable solutions that will stand the test of time. I am confident that by the grace of God and with your support, we shall take the Nigerian Academy of Engineering to new heights.
As we embark on this journey, I invite all members to join hands with us. Let us work together to build a stronger, more vibrant engineering community in Nigeria.
Conclusion
As we gather at this momentous occasion, I am reminded of the immense responsibility that rests on our shoulders. Our Academy is a beacon of excellence, and I pledge to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and innovation.
We operate in a world where technology is rapidly changing the landscape of industries and societies. As engineers, we have a critical role to play in shaping Nigeria’s future. Let us harness our collective expertise to drive growth, solve pressing challenges, and improve the quality of life for our citizens.
To our members, I assure you of my commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and serving the best interests of our profession. Together, let us propel the Nigerian Academy of Engineering to greater heights.
Thank you for listening.
Long live the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.