By Isqil Najim
The newly inaugurated 5th Chairman of NSE Ota Branch, Engr. Fabian Ikechukwu Anyanwu, has declared professional growth as paramount and therefore pledged a focused drive for members’ continuous development to maintain industry relevance.
He was speaking at CEDS Hall, Covenant University, Ota, after he and the newly elected executive members have been sworn in. on November 22, 2025,
Anyanwu noted that the implications of emerging technologies demand engineers to constantly adapt. “The learning, unlearning, and relearning are critical if we desire to remain movers of change,” he said.
To this end, the branch will work to enhance the learning content of its technical sessions and workshops. This effort is aimed at ensuring members remain the preferred professionals by yielding excellent, value-driven performance in the rapidly evolving engineering landscape.
The inauguration theme “Synergizing Fire Safety and Sustainable Practices in Nigerian Construction: A comprehensive strategy for risk mitigation & environmental stewardship,” highlights the commitment to high-impact interventions.
Engr. Anyanwu stressed that fire safety and sustainability are intrinsically linked. “We must design and build structures that not only protect lives and property but also minimize environmental impact. This is a call to action to transform our built environment”.
Beyond professional development, the new administration has charted a clear course for institutional and community growth. A major priority is tackling the challenge of the branch’s “engine room”—a conducive secretariat.
Engr. Anyanwu announced a move to renovate the office space provided by the College of Engineering, BELLS University of Technology, Ota, while actively fundraising for the construction of a permanent branch secretariat. This secretariat will be named after the first chairman, Engr Dr Akin Adeoye.
He also announced that the branch will continue to stimulate the interest of secondary students in engineering through programs like STEM COMPETITION, CAREER TALK, and ROBOTICS TRAINING (Innovate4Impact). These efforts are designed to mentor young graduates and raise the standard of engineering practices in the sub-region.
Engr. Anyanwu, a COREN-registered Civil Engineer and the MD/CEO of FIRCS GUFAK NIG LTD, acknowledged the legacy of the branch’s pioneers and predecessors.
Earlier In her welcome address, the outgoing chairman, Engr. Dr. Edith Alagbe, delivered the Welcome Address/Valedictory Speech. She noted the privilege and honor of serving as Chairman of NSE Ota Branch. Reflecting on her tenure, she stated, “Over the past few months and years, we have worked together to strengthen our professional community, expand our networks, support our members, and uphold the values that guide our discipline”.
Dr. Alagbe expressed her deep gratitude for the cooperation, trust, and willingness of members to contribute their ideas, time, and energy. She welcomed and congratulated the newly elected Branch Chairman, Engr. Fabian Ikechukwu Anyanwu, expressing confidence that under his stewardship, the Branch will continue to grow, innovate, and pursue even greater accomplishments. “Leadership is a relay, not a possession,”
she affirmed. As she steps aside, she pledged to remain a committed member and continue to offer her support, requesting that members extend the same cooperation, loyalty, and encouragement to the new Chairman.
Meanwhile, the Keynote Speaker, Engr. Dr. Bola Mudasiru, Deputy National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE). Speaking on the theme, “Synergizing Fire Safety and Sustainable Practices in Nigerian Construction,” challenged the traditional divide between safety and environmental stewardship.
He advocated for a holistic framework tailored to Nigeria’s rapidly urbanizing landscape, rooted in the philosophy that fire safety and sustainability are not competing interests, but rather inseparable pillars of modern engineering excellence.
To achieve this synergy, he highlighted three critical focus areas: Shifting toward spatial planning that prioritizes passive fire strategies alongside energy-efficient façade; promoting a transition to low-carbon, recycled, and bio-based materials that do not compromise structural integrity and Implementing energy-aware detection and suppression technologies, driven by predictive maintenance and intelligent controls.
Dr. Mudasiru concluded that integrated strategies, encompassing technical, socioeconomic, and environmental dimensions, deliver superior outcomes across safety and environmental quality. The path forward requires collective action from policymakers, regulators, developers, and communities to transform Nigeria’s construction sector into a global exemplar of integrated risk management and environmental stewardship.
The ceremony also witnessed the induction of new corporate Members. During their induction, Engr. Anyanwu committed to use his office to promote the public good: “We will strive to do common things uncommonly well to deliver value to our members and make the desired impact”.
Engr. Anyanwu will lead the branch alongside a dedicated team of Executive Officers for the 2025/2026 tenure. The new NSE Ota Branch Executive Council members are:
- Chairman: Engr. Fabian Ikechukwu Anyanwu, MNSE, MNICE, R. Engr.
- Vice Chairman: Engr. Faith Toty Ademuyiwa, MNSE
- General Secretary: Engr. Michael Folaranmi, MNSE
- Assistant General Secretary: Engr. Onyechi Ozema Vivian
- Treasurer: Engr. Fred Eigboikhan, MNSE
- Financial Secretary: Engr. Dr. Nonogisagbon Owamano Imhoahaste
- Technical Secretary: Engr. Aina Ben, MNSE
- Assistant Technical Secretary: Engr. Akanji Oluwamayowa
- Publicity Secretary: Engr. Adekunle Sunday Kehinde
- Immediate Past Chairman (Ex-Officio): Engr. Dr. Edith Alagbe, MNSE, FNSChE
- Ex-Official: Engr. Adewale George Adeyemi
