Mr Olutosin Ogunmola, chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja branch, said the society would collaborate with key stakeholders to evolve local technology to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation for sustainable development.
A statement by the chairman, planning committee, Engineering week, Mr Festus Alawode, on Tuesday in Lagos, said Ogunmola made the remark at an event to announce programmes of the 2021 annual engineering week of Ikeja branch.
Ogunmola said the branch identified three key stakeholders – the academa, industry and professional bodies with which it would form the synergy needed for speedy industrialisation of the country.
He said the Ikeja branch of NSE had evolved and driven deliberate policies towards local content development for “own grown industrial revolution” to fast track the nations industrialisation.
“The truth of the matter like we also told people, if we don’t build Nigeria, nobody will build it for us.
“We have a situation where we have a number of our compatriots having to run out of the country, and you may not blame them.
“But one thing I kept telling people is, so far you have somewhere to run to, you must remember that it is people that built those places and it is a generation of those nations that decided to create a country that works,” said Ogunmola.
He, therefore, challenged Nigerians to build the country that the future generation could be proud of.
He said the theme of the 2021 engineering week, “Integrated Engineering Development As A Catalyst For Home Grown Industrial Revolution,” was carefully chosen to reflect the present need of the country.
He said the Nigerian economy was struggling because due to inadequate production. “So, it is clear that any nation that is not producing what it is consuming cannot have a vibrant economy.
“This is the essence of the theme for this annual engineering week, for us to put a spotlight on that very important area of industrialisation for the Nigerian economy.”
He said the Ikeja Branch, which prided itself as “the branch to beat” was concerned about professionalism and the welfare of its members as well as supporting the development of Lagos State and Nigeria.
“So we are building ourselves up as a major stakeholder in building a society that works, while we have many other people that will come from different angles,” he said. (NAN)
•PHOTO: Mr Olutosin Ogunmola
