The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Babagana Mohammed, has advised branches of Engineers across the country to concentrate more on community engineering projects at the grassroots.
Mohammed gave the advice at the 2021 Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting of Bwari branch on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme of the conference is: The Role of Nigerian Maritime Sector in Strategic National Development.
Mohammed was represented by Mr Gidari Saad, the society’s deputy president.
He said in as much as the National body of NSE appreciated branches getting people together to discuss topical issues, they should leave conferences to NSE at the National level and professional institution of the NSE.
He commended the Bwari branch for its contributions toward national development at the grassroots level, adding that the branch recently donated Solar-Powered Borehole to Gaba community in Bwari, Abuja.
“I was at Gaba community to inaugurate the borehole, it was quite commendable intervention in community engineering.
“That project is in tandem with NSE’s consistent demand for branches and divisions to engage more in community engineering projects to solve many economic and social problems facing rural communities all over the country.
“The force of community engineering intervention becomes most obvious if we imagine the impact that will be created on lives of Nigerians if all our 80 branches across the country execute a rural project every year,’’ he said.
Chairman, NSE, Bwari branch, Dr Halimat Adediran, said that the theme for this year’s conference was apt in view of the strategies that the Federal Government was putting in place to diversify the economy from oil.
According to Adediran, Maritime sector is an overlooked goldmine with the capacity of becoming a key engine of our economic development.
“Though the maritime sector holds tremendous capacity to drive sustainable national development, it is still necessary to undergo restructuring and reform, reconstructing and repositioning by the government and other stakeholders,’’ she said.
Dr Umar Bindir, Special Assistant to the President and National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), office of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said that government was focused on poverty eradication.
Bindir said that there was the need for absolute total eradication of poverty and every Nigerian should have access, not just to basic human needs, but to all opportunities that would lead to fulfilling lives for national development.
Other speakers at the event appreciated the efforts of the branch and pledged their supports to assist the branch and also contribute to the national development. (NAN)
