First female President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala
President Bola Tinubu, the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as well as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, are expected to headline this year’s annual international engineering conference, hosted by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
First female President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that aside the aforementioned, other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include: Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari as well as the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu will officially open the conference in Abuja, Oguntala said, while others will be delivering papers showcasing what they are doing in their own domains on food security.
Oguntala stated that the programme themed: “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” will also feature an exhibition, and the group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
According to Oguntala, the gathering will also see over 6,000 influential engineers, thought leaders, policymakers, and key industry figures from Nigeria and across the globe in attendance.
The event scheduled for November 19, she said, will set the stage for high-impact collaborations, where Nigeria’s future in climate resilience, food security, and engineering innovation will be shaped.
The assembly attendees, she said, will have the unique opportunity to engage with investors, technical and financial experts, and visionaries from the oil and gas, agriculture, and energy sectors, with numerous opportunities to foster sustainable partnerships.
She added that the grand exhibition will spotlight ground-breaking products and engineering feats, making it a key platform for showcasing the expertise and advancements that drive sustainable development across industries.
Oguntala further stated that the NSE was pushing for a better deal for its entrance level members, and was engaging with the relevant government authorities to ensure that their starting salary is improved upon.
“Early in my tenure, we launched strategic training programmes, equipping young engineers with skills in data analytics, software development, and smart farming. These programmes have prepared our engineers to tackle challenges in food security, digital technology, and resource management.
“We have strengthened inter-governmental relations, supporting infrastructure initiatives across the country and advocating for enhanced recognition and remuneration for engineers in public service, including elevating the starting salary grade for engineers to reflect their vital role,” she added.
In line with its commitment to developing the engineering profession locally, she said the NSE was advancing initiatives to support rural communities, stressing during the question and answer session that engineers were not responsible for the failure of road projects across the country.
“Our NSE entrepreneurship development programme has empowered engineers to lead innovations in agribusiness. We are planning to establish demonstration farms and engineering villages, where engineers will apply mechanised farming techniques, renewable energy solutions, and irrigation technology.
“These hubs will enable our engineers to bring expertise directly to rural communities, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth,” she pointed out.
Oguntala stated that the focus on energy accessibility and efficiency has produced promising developments, with the promotion of renewable energy integration, including mini-grid solar installations that power irrigation and processing equipment.
“To support the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, we have encouraged local production of essential machinery and spare parts, reducing dependency on imports and strengthening national industry,” she stressed.
Noting that quality remains a cornerstone of the NSE, in alignment with international standards, the society stated that is participating in this year’s World Quality Day, themed “Quality: From Compliance to Performance.”
“This celebration reflects our commitment to achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification, underscoring our pledge to uphold global best practices,” Oguntala added.
Emmanuel Addeh
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