By Isqil najim
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) on Thursday formally inaugurated Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, former Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as its 14th President, in a colourful investiture ceremony held at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos.
The event, which drew an impressive gathering of past presidents, vice-chancellors, fellows and dignitaries within the engineering profession, also featured the induction of 12 new fellows, the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to 10 distinguished members, and the conferment of honorary fellowships.
Speaking shortly after his investiture, Prof. Danbatta said his presidency would be anchored on what he described as a “Triple Helix” agenda — a partnership model built around government, industry and academia. He said the Academy, under his watch, would promote key strategic focus areas of the plan, centred on transforming engineering education, revitalising technical education, strengthening infrastructure maintenance strategy, advancing engineering policy and advocacy, driving national industrialisation and manufacturing, and deepening strategic partnerships.
He said the agenda would align with the institute’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, aimed at transforming engineering education, promoting industrialisation, strengthening infrastructure management, and advancing technical skills development across the country.
The new NAE President pledged that the academy would deepen engagement with both the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure that national policies are guided by sound engineering data, research and innovation.
“We will champion home-grown technological solutions to address challenges in power supply, broadband expansion, climate change and environmental sustainability,” Danbatta said, identifying the persistent disconnect between academia and industry as a major obstacle to the country’s technological advancement.
He pledged to strengthen partnerships that would equip graduates with practical, entrepreneurial and industry-relevant skills, stressing that the Academy would no longer be content with theory alone, and disclosed plans to deepen the institute’s collaboration with sister bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Beyond Nigeria’s shores, the new president said the Academy would expand its partnerships with engineering institutions across Africa, Europe and the Americas to promote knowledge exchange and the adoption of global best practices. He rounded off his address with a charge to fellow engineers to move beyond mere advocacy and begin contributing practical, workable solutions to Nigeria’s numerous developmental challenges.
Goodwill Messages Flow In
The investiture attracted goodwill messages from several quarters, with the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Haruna Musa, delivering one of the most pointed addresses of the day.
Speaking as a special guest of honour, Prof. Musa congratulated the Academy and Prof. Danbatta on the milestone, describing the investiture as a fitting honour for a man whose career, in his words, has shaped generations of engineers in Nigeria. He shared a personal tribute to the new president, recalling how, after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1991, he was inspired to join academia by the likes of Prof. Danbatta. “I rose from the rank of Graduate Assistant in 1993 to become a Professor and now the 12th Vice-Chancellor of BUK. Thank you, Professor Danbatta, for the mentorship and support all along,” Musa said.
The BUK helmsman went further to trace Danbatta’s rise through the ranks at BUK, where he served as Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Director of Works, and Director of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT), before his appointment as Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the NCC, where he became known as a transformative figure in telecommunications and national development.
Musa noted that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where professionals must urgently address pressing national challenges, including those in the transportation sector, energy deficit and insecurity. “We are yet to harness the abundant renewable resources we have in this country,” he said, calling on the Academy to take deliberate steps toward transforming the nation’s transport sector with the emergence of electric vehicles and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles. On security, he was equally direct: “Without technology, there is no way we can effectively deter and detect security challenges,” he warned, urging the Academy to help craft clear policies and programmes around these issues.
He also tasked the incoming president to provide evidence-based counsel to government and to champion standards and ethical practices within the profession, expressing confidence that the Academy would record greater achievements under Danbatta’s leadership, citing his integrity and strong professional record.
Prof. Musa also commended the Lifetime Achievement Awardees honoured at the event, singling out Professor Mohammed Ajiya, a former Director of the Centre for Information Technology at BUK, who was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy — describing it as a proud moment for the university.
He closed his remarks by thanking the past and present leadership of the Academy for their service, and expressed appreciation to the host Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation since their arrival in Lagos.
Outgoing President Bows Out
Earlier in the proceedings, the outgoing President of the Academy, Professor Rahamon Bello, used his valedictory remarks to reflect on his tenure, saying the institute had strengthened its role as a strategic adviser on engineering, technology and innovation policy during his time in office. Bello said the Academy had continued to promote engineering research, capacity development and stakeholder engagement aimed at addressing the country’s development needs, and urged members to rally behind the new leadership to advance the Academy’s mandate and national relevance.
Addressing the newly inducted fellows directly, Bello told them: “You are joining a community of thought leaders and nation-builders. Your expertise is needed now more than ever to support national development and advance the work of the academy.”
Public Lecture and Inductions
The investiture was preceded by the Academy’s annual public lecture, delivered by Engineer Emeritus Professor Fola Lasisi, a former President of the Academy, on the theme “Engineering through Innovation and Mentorship.”
In all, 12 new fellows were inducted into the Academy, while 10 distinguished members were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of their contributions to engineering and national development. Honorary fellowships were also conferred during the ceremony. Among those who spoke on behalf of the newly inducted fellows was Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, a former Special Adviser on Works to the Lagos State Government, who pledged the commitment of the new members to advancing engineering excellence and contributing to national development.
The ceremony, held at the University of Lagos and hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade Ogunsola, closed with words of appreciation to the immediate past leadership of the Academy and prayers for the continued progress of the profession and the nation at large.