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  • Foreigners are taking over our jobs, Nigerian Engineers cry out

    Foreigners are taking over our jobs, Nigerian Engineers cry out

    The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibadan Branch have raised an alarm that foreigners are fast taking over their jobs vowing to resist this development with all arsenals at their disposal.

    Accusing fingers are being pointed specifically at Chinese, Lebanese and such other foreign nationals who often claim to be expatriates doing the job which many Nigerian engineers have the expertise and skills to do.

    Addressing a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, Engr. (Prince) Adedamola Falade-Fatila asserted saying “there is no denying the fact that Nigerian engineers, as at today, have not been properly and fully taking their pride of place in nation building and infrastructure development of the country, and this is quite saddening.

    “This is not where we should be.  Foreigners, notably Chinese, Lebanese, etc. have taken over virtually all these jobs, even the obstinate part of these projects.”

    Engr. Falade-Fatila who was recently inducted as the 25th Ibadan branch chairman, while briefing journalists as part of activities heralding the 2018 Engineering Week of the branch, remarked that “the NSE, Ibadan Branch, known as the Premier Branch or the mother of all branches, would take up this challenge and pursue it.”

    He said: “The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, under my leadership, will pursue vigorously everything it will take for Nigerian engineers to own the engineering profession in the country. We will engage government more meaningfully to possibly enact laws that will empower the engineers more and give back to Nigerian engineers what is rightfully due to them. It is not the best that can happen to Nigerian engineers for us to sit back in our homes or at the Secretariat, fold our arms while foreigners – Chinese, Lebanese, etc. take over virtually all these jobs, even the obstinate part of these projects. It is so unfortunate. No nation develops meaningfully this way.

    “And so it is one of my visions, as Chairman of this Branch at this time, to do everything we can to engage government at all levels to take our rights back. It is my belief that if we do this in Ibadan, someone does same in Osogbo, we replicate it in Yenagoa, Kafanchan, Owerri, etc., before you know it, the fire will go round and thing will improve for the engineers.”

    Read Also: Engineers urged to join politics

    The NSE Chairman however commended the Federal Government on the recently signed Presidential Executive Order 5 which deals with planning and execution of projects and promotion of Nigerian Content in the award of contracts on Science, Engineering and Technology saying it is like a dream come true.

    He however enjoined Government to manifest the will and zeal required to see it to fruition.

    He said: “For us at the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, it is long overdue. But it is indeed a laudable achievement for the Federal Government of Nigeria as the NSE has always been canvassing for the Nigerian content. It gives us an assurance or some level of confidence that indeed the government is listening to the engineers. It is only our prayer that the Government will back it up with the will and every zeal that is needed to see it to fruition. The Government should not only say it, but should walk the talk.”

     

  • NAMA chief lauds women engineers

    NAMA chief lauds women engineers

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, has extolled the impact of women engineers in socio-economic development.

    Akinkuotu spoke at the investiture of Felicia Agubata as the 15th president of the  Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) in Lagos.

    He noted that Nigeria’s history would be incomplete without mentioning the role of women engineers who have made indelible contributions to its technological advancement.

    He described the new president, a staff member of NAMA, as a woman of valour, persistence and hard work who has transformed  NAMA Engineering Department within her few years in the agency.

    “If given the opportunity and enabling environment, women like Agubata, would continue to excel in their endeavours,’’ Akinkuotu said.

    He praised the leadership and members of APWEN for the investiture of Agubata, noting that it was an honour.

    Agubata promised to uphold the dignity of women engineers and to serve the profession and humanity well.

    Acknowledging the challenges ahead, especially the expectations from the engineering community and stakeholders, Agubata promised to focus on capacity building to mobilise necessary human and material resources and create value for the good of the society in line with the mission of APWEN.

    “There is no research work that has shown that one gender is stronger or weaker than the other, both sexes when given the exposures, training and orientation, the outcome will be very interesting. To guarantee continuous progress, both sexes must complement and support each other. This will ensure that our potential as one humanity is maximised across all spheres,” he said.

    She said the association members should work together to meet the  needs of the society and to improve human experience and expand opportunities for the emerging woman.

  • Dangote trains 150 engineers on refining operations

    The management of Dangote Oil Refinery Company (DORC) yesterday said 150  young local engineers have been trained in refining and refinery operations in preparation for the take-off of its 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery and petrochemical plant.

    Speaking to reporters during the presentation of the batch of 23 trainee engineers that just returned from Mumbai, India, after a five-month training at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, the Director, Human Resources, DORC, Mr Mohan Kumar, said a total of 150 fresh engineers have been trained to manage the operations of the refinery which is currently under construction.

    Kumar said the young engineers were trained in all aspects of refinery operation in Mumbai, adding that the trained engineers had gathered fundamental practical knowledge about refinery operation.

    According to him, the engineers were recruited and trained to witness the building of the refinery from the scratch. They spent two months in classroom training and three months on the job, he added.

    They were trained in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited by experts who have had over 45 years experience in refinery operations.

  • LASBCA urges engineers to report safety violations

    The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has urged engineers to be whistleblowers by reporting safety standard violations resulting in buildings collapse in the state.

    LASBCA General Manager, Olalekan Shodeinde, made the appeal when the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) paid him a courtesy visit in Ikeja.

    “Whistle blowing is an avenue to give us whatever information on any structure, be it construction or reconstruction, that is structurally defective,” Shodeinde said.

    He urged engineers and concerned members of the public to call the agency’s toll free lines to give information of deviation from approved permits and approvals and other atrocities on sites capable of jeopardising safety.

    Shodeinde listed the agency’s toll free lines as 070050504040 and 07000527222.

    He appealed to APWEN to sensitise building professionals against shoddy deals, which compromise safety and standard of buildings.

    “We need floods of information. We need to get professionals to get the force behind materials to avoid safety reduction in construction,” he said.

    He said Lagos, with about two million households, was the only mega city growing horizontally instead of vertical growth.

    According to him, developments in various parts of the state usually preceded governance such that hinterlands would have been built up without requisite building approvals and permits before government would get the information.

    He said the involvement of engineers to expose atrocities in building sites was important for an all-inclusive fight against buildings collapse.

    According to him, builders on sites often shun LASBCA advice and stressed the need for constant presence of professionals on construction sites.

    He said that getting building permits and approvals was not expensive, adding that many developers deviated from approved plans to short change government thereby compromising safety.

    Earlier, APWEN National President, Mrs Felicia Agubata, and its state Chairperson, Mrs Laolu Adedapo-Aisida, said the association had embarked on career mentoring of more women into engineering in tertiary institutions to accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement.

    Other members of APWEN delegation included, Mrs Funmi Akingbagbohun, Mrs Edith Alagbe, Mrs Atinuke Wuraola-Owolabi, and Mrs Shakira Subair.

  • Engineers urged to join politics

    Members of the Nigerian Society of Nigeria (NSE) have been advised to join  politics to provide direction in leadership, revolutionalise the nation’s infrastructure and ensure rapid economic growth.

    Flour Mills Plc Human Resources Director,  Wale Adeniran, made the call while speaking as a guest speaker at the 8th memorial lecture of the late Dr Ralph Alabi, the first  Ikeja branch chairman of the society. The lecture was organised by the Ikeja branch of the NSE. He spoke on the topic: “Political and Human Re-Engineering: An exemplary passion of an Icon for his nation.”

    Adeniran said political leadership should be accessible and affordable to engineers in order to make the desired impact needed in the nation’s economy.

    The guest speaker said engineers were trained to provide solutions and manage human resources, and as such, would do better in political leadership.

    He said engineers provided leadership in most developed countries, noting that China revolutionalised its infrastructure and economy because it had engineers in politics.

    Adeniran explained that some countries like Indonesia with history of military rule developed rapidly because their engineers were given opportunity in governance.

    “The NSE must take it as a challenge to mentor engineers to provide leadership. In the case of China, they have engineer politicians. Where are our own engineer politicians?,” he asked.

    The NSE Ikeja branch chairman, Mr Akin Akintola, said the branch was ready to lead the campaign to mentor engineers into politics.

    “I am a politician myself and will encourage and give my members optimum support to go into politics for the overall good of Nigeria,” he said.

    Akintola said the legacies of the first chairman, the late Dr Ralph Alabi, being celebrated, was worthy of emulations.

    An elder and past chairman of NSE Lagos Chapter, Mr Tunde Zedomi, also stressed the need to take the campaign for participation of engineers in politics serious.

  • Engineers to sensitise on safety, prevent disasters

    Engineers to sensitise on safety, prevent disasters

    The Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISE) has embarked on efforts aimed at preventing disasters and improving safety awareness on fire, flooding and building collapse.

    According to its Chairman, Abiodun Oyedepo, the move became necessary after safety concerns were raised in several quarters on fire, flooding and building collapse.

    As part of NISE’s efforts towards sensitising the public on preventive measures, Oyedepo said NISE leadership had been paying visiting various organisations and agencies, such as Chevron, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) (Retail), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, among others.

    At the places visited, Oyedepo said their responses were warm, with people expressing appreciation that Nigerian engineers had risen from their slumber.

    To this end, the NISE has slated its first conference, with the theme: “Assuring public safety in Nigeria: The roles of engineers”.

    The conference will hold from  November 7 to 10, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

    “We are building a foundation for others to build on and are setting up chapters in more states of the federation, with the first one recently being inaugurated in Awka, Anambra State,” Oyedepo said.

    The Chairman of the NISE Conference Planning Committee, Seun Faluyi, said institution would work with regulatory agencies on capacity development programmes to address building collapse. He lamented that regulatory bodies were not sufficiently staffed.

    “Engineers know what to do if you want to prevent flooding even where there is plenty of rainfall. Where you design buildings and factor in safety during the construction, collapses can be prevented,” Faluyi said, adding that the assurance of safety is higher when qualified engineers are actively involved.

    The Conference Planning Committee Secretary, Kayode Fowode, said the NISE was sensitising the public on the need for housing construction supervisors in every state to take proper measures during construction to prevent building collapse. He said there would also be training courses for registered builders to identify problems during construction and address them promptly.

    A member of the committee, Oluwafemi Ogunseitan, asserted that for the entire value chain, from design to construction on site, NISE would support other regulatory bodies, adding that it would ensure robust safety checks through capacity building and necessary standards. He said the institution was not formed to compete with other safety bodies and agencies but to collaborate with all, to improve safety, as an engineering body.

    The NISE, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), was inaugurated in January, last year. NISE is made up of engineers who are registered with the NSE and active in safety practice. Membership of NISE is open to engineers; persons involved in safety jobs are also welcome as associate members.

  • Guinness Nigeria boosts power sector with engineers

    Guinness Nigeria boosts power sector with engineers

    The first set of beneficiaries of the Guinness Nigeria Graduate Skills Development Scholarship scheme has graduated. The graduates, who represent the first set of Guinness-sponsored engineers, completed a year training at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).

    At their graduation, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Viola Graham-Douglas, said the objective of the collaboration with NAPTIN was to provide a pool of resourceful, competent and versatile engineers capable of delivering peerless technical services to further shore up the government’s transformation agenda in the power sector.

    She noted that the beneficiaries, having scaled all hurdles in the course of their training, have remarkably demonstrated high technical and leadership competencies, which are strongly believed will  help accelerate their career progression.

    Graham-Douglas further commended the beneficiaries for putting in so much hard work to earn  their certification. “You scaled through the competitive selection process for the scholarship; you excelled in the class-based component of the training and you successfully fulfilled the requirements of the job placement programme. Indeed, you should all be proud of your achievements,” she said.

    Also, Human Resources Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Bola Olajomi-Otubu, urged the NAPTIN-certified engineers to take advantage of their newly-acquired skills to propel their careers. She noted  that if well utilised, the skills gained can enhance their technical know-how, improve productivity, and ultimately induce value-added production capacity.

    She enjoined all the beneficiaries to take advantage of this knowledge transfer and be the best that they can be.

    NAPTIN’s Acting Director-General, Mr. Ahmed BolajiNagode, In his remarks, said: “The participation of Guinness Nigeria Plc is very noteworthy because the organisation is not a core player in the power business ecosystem,” noting that Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to youth development was commendable as it provided an example worthy of emulation by other non-core power sector players.

    The Graduate Skills Development Programme is one of three scholarship programmes Guinness Nigeria leverages to equip Nigerian youths with the skills they need to build successful careers and enhance their livelihoods. Others include: Guinness Nigeria’s technical training scholarship, which offers young school leavers a unique opportunity to study at the prestigious Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT), and an undergraduate scholarship scheme, which supports undergraduates from Guinness Nigeria’s host communities studying in tertiary institutions.

  • Guinness trains engineers for power sector

    Guinness Nigeria has organised a graduation for pioneer beneficiaries of the company’s Graduate Skills Development Scholarship.

    The first set of Guinness-sponsored engineers completed a one year training at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria.

    The Guinness Graduate Skills Development Scholarship provides an opportunity for young engineering graduates to undergo a one-year training at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria. Upon completion of the programme, graduates gain valuable skills they need to work for organisations that manage power generation, transmission and distribution.

    Speaking at the event, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, said: “The objective of our collaboration with NAPTIN is to provide a pool of resourceful, competent and versatile engineers who can deliver peerless technical services to further shore up the government’s transformation agenda in the power sector”. She noted that the graduands, having scaled all hurdles in the course of their training, have remarkably demonstrated high technical and leadership competencies, which “we strongly believe, will help accelerate their career progression.”

    Graham-Douglas further commended all the beneficiaries for putting in so much hardwork to earn their certification. “You scaled through the competitive selection process for the scholarship; you excelled in the class-based component of the training and you successfully fulfilled the requirements of the job placement programme. Indeed, you should all be proud of your achievements,” she said.

    Also, the Human Resources Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Bola Olajomi-Otubu, urged all the NAPTIN-certified engineers to take good advantage of their newly-acquired skills to propel their careers.

    She noted that if well-utilised, the skills they have gained can enhance their technical know-how, improve productivity, and ultimately induce value-added production capacity. She enjoined all the beneficiaries to take advantage of this knowledge transfer and be the best that they can be.

    NAPTIN Acting Director-General, Mr Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, said: “The participation of Guinness Nigeria Plc is very noteworthy because the organisation is not a core player in the power business ecosystem”. He further noted that Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to youth development is commendable as it provides an example worthy of emulation by other non-core power sector players.’’

    The Graduate Skills Development Programme is one of three scholarship programmes Guinness Nigeria leverages to equip youths with the skills they need to build successful careers and enhance their livelihoods.

    Others include: Guinness Nigeria’s technical training scholarship, which offers young school leavers a unique opportunity to study at the prestigious Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT), and an undergraduate scholarship scheme, which supports undergraduates from Guinness Nigeria’s host communities studying in tertiary institutions.

     

  • You’re a good ambassador of engineers at DICON’

    The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Otis Anyaeji, has hailed the research activities and reverse engineering under the leadership of the Director- General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Ogunkale.
    He spoke during a visit to the corporation’s headquarters in Kaduna.
    Anyaeji was accompanied by the executives of the professional body.
    The president, who said a window of a new horizon to robust relationship between DICON and NSE had been opened with their member at the helm, added that NSE would explore the opportunity to create a better society as stakeholders in the industrialisation of the country.
    He said NSE would be more determined under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, adding that his pronouncements, position and posture demonstrated his support for local production, to meet the nation’s industrial need.
    “Let us zero in on the President Buhari government. The time we have been waiting for is here. The president has said all we need we can produce, what we cannot produce, we don’t need them.”
    Anyaeji said research was germane “to the much-desired industrial breakthrough of our beloved nation”, noting that DICON was working in the area of research and development and NSE would be interested in that.
    On the issue of local content act, he said a bill had been introduced, stressing that a holistic approach was necessary to ensure it was not just limited to the oil and gas industry, but other industries.
    He noted with delight that DICON was doing well in that area through reverse engineering.
    “The present global economic downturn has affected many industries in Nigeria, leading to their deaths, but DICON has remained afloat, which is worthy of commendation and encouragement from well-meaning Nigerians.”
    On the proposal of speed limit for commercial vehicles by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Anyaeji said that would be a market of about N40billion, adding that as an advocate of local content, he would like Nigerian engineers to handle the project.
    He said the new logo was thought-provoking and challenging, seeing aircraft, tanks and warship on the logo, which, according to him, depicted the direction they were going.
    The NSE president said DICON should concentrate its efforts on the smallest ones it has comparative advantage to produce.

  • Engineers push for safety in manufacturing, others

    Engineers push for safety in manufacturing, others

    The Nigerian chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has resolved to step up the campaign on safety operations in manufacturing and other sectors.

    It took the decision at its fourth yearly conference in Lagos.

    Speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the conference presented a golden opportunity for participants to learn new things on safety.

    He said safety concerns have taken centre stage in the manufacturing process of companies operating in Nigeria hence, the need to put in place new measures to ensure that safety becomes the goal of government through education and enlightenment.

    The governor while noting that Lagos State with its huge population has its own safety challenges, said his administration has tried to address them by putting in place relevant agencies to ensure that acceptable standards are strictly adhered to.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Oladejo, used the occasion to highlight the relentless efforts of the state government on safety and environment.

    He said for instance, the emergency unit of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has been well equipped to cope with safety issues.

    Also speaking, the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), represented by the Commander of Zone 2 Sector, Mr. Shehu Zhaki, revealed that accidents all over the globe posed safety problems. He said that 1.2 million people die in accidents annually all over the world, while 50 million people are wounded.

    He also said that Nigeria has been classified as one of the top five countries that record the highest number of road accidents in the world. The incessant road accidents in the country, he said, led the Federal Government to set up the FRSC in 1988 to reduce road accidents in the country.

    Zhaki stated that curbing the menace of road accidents is an onerous task that FRSC has been saddled with, adding that to be able to tackle this, the organisation has embarked on the training and retraining of its personnel.

    The General Manager, Upstream, Nigeria Safety, Health and Environment, ExxonMobil, Mrs. Carol A. Antaih, in her keynote address, said that occupational health and safety was becoming a worldwide concern not only for workers and their families, but also for governments, businesses and stakeholders.

    In the keynote address titled: Building a Safety Culture: Our Collective Responsibility, Antaih said that the most successful economies have demonstrated that workplaces designed according to principles of occupational health, safety and ergonomics are the most sustainable and productive.

    She shared some insights from ExxonMobil’s perspective on safety, which she said was towards excellence where ‘nobody gets hurt’ including employees, contractors and all stakeholders as well as communities where they do their business.

    Antaih stated that protecting the safety and health of the workforce is fundamental to the company’s business because safety is a core value and an integral part of its culture. “In fact, our commitment to sound sustainable environments, safety and security of our people form the foundation of our long term business success,” she said.

    The ExxonMobil safety manager said the company believes that no business objective should be pursued at the expense of safety.

    “We are relentless in our pursuit of safety so every employee and contractor returns home from work everyday safe and healthy. This is a commitment we make to ourselves and it underpins everything that we do in our operations every single day,” she said.

    Antaih revealed that ExxonMobil has over the past 10 years witnessed a 50 per cent reduction in lost time injuries and illness rates for employees and contractors, adding, “We are on a journey where the destination is zero hurt and we will remain committed to this goal.”

    She called on participants to focus on building a strong and sustainable safety culture for business and economic progress.

    Also speaking against the backdrop of building collapse and other unfortunate incidents in the construction industry, the Group Managing Director, Brickwall Group of Companies, Mr. Uche Ahubelem, said the issue of safety management has become even more critical in Nigeria.

    While stressing that safety is all encompassing, from manufacturing to everyday safety, Ahubelem urged government to encourage mangers of industries and businesses to insist on safety.

    Earlier in his remarks at the opening ceremony, the Consular General of the American embassy in Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, expressed pleasure in what ASSE is doing especially as it celebrates its 106 years this year.

    He noted that this was a remarkable achievement as it has been occupying a firm position in the health and safety sector.

    He praised ASSE Nigeria’s commitment in bringing government and the private sector together. The global team from the United States was led by the ASSE Global President, Thomas F. Cecich.