In a bid to bolster Osun State’s industrialisation efforts and address youth unemployment, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has announced a strategic partnership with the Osun State Government to provide specialised training in Prepaid Meter Installation and Solar Technology Design and Installation for 300 young indigenes across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by a technical team from the NSE and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), led by NSE President Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, to the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, where the governor was also given an award of excellence in infrastructure development .
The event, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Government Secretariat in Osogbo, is part of ongoing efforts to position Osun State as a leader in sustainable technology and infrastructure development, which has been tagged #OsunInfraFocus.
Oguntala emphasised the NSE’s commitment to supporting the state’s transition from a civil service-dependent economy to an industrialised hub. “You want to move Osun from a civil service state to an industrialised state. The NSE is fully committed to partnering with your administration to turn Osun into a hub of industrial progress, innovation and investors destination of choice,” she stated.
Governor Adeleke, in his remarks, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership and the recognition from the NSE. “I am delighted to host this ardent technical team of engineering leaders in Nigeria. You have seen our delivery around construction sites. What you saw at Osogbo is small; construction is ongoing across the 30 local governments and area councils,” he said. “We have shown that we have the will, the capacity, and the courage to achieve our goals. We are determined to take Osun to greater heights.”
He then said, “I must also appreciate the award from the UK Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and dedicate the award to the good people of Osun State. As we step out to check our projects, I am convinced that you will return a positive verdict for us. We have a very strong technical team- they are your members, they are doing a great job. I take note of your proposals. The Ministry of Works should take up the offers, the Ministry of Works should reach out to the NSE.”
The visit also served as an opportunity for the NSE team to conduct an audit and validation tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in the state, including the Oke Fia flyover in Osogbo. These projects are central to Governor Adeleke’s infrastructure plan, which he unveiled shortly after taking office in 2023.
This partnership between the NSE and the Osun State Government is expected to have far-reaching effects, not only in terms of youth empowerment but also in attracting investors and driving the state’s industrialisation agenda.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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