The newly conferred fellows of the Nigerian Society of Engineers at the 2026 Third Quarterly Dinner and Fellowship Conferment on Thursday in Lagos
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has urged engineers to focus on developing infrastructure that directly improves the lives, safety and productivity of the people.
Hamzat, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, made the call at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) 2026 Third Quarterly Dinner and Fellowship Conferment on Thursday in Lagos.
He said engineering went beyond the construction of roads, bridges and other physical structures, stressing that its ultimate purpose is to solve problems and improve the quality of life.
“A road is important because it connects people to communities and opportunities; a bridge has value because it improves connectivity, while a drainage system matters because it protects lives, homes and businesses,” he said.
The deputy governor said Lagos, as a rapidly growing city, required infrastructure that was resilient, sustainable and responsive to the needs of its growing population.
He said infrastructure planning must take into consideration the interconnected nature of transportation, land use, drainage, energy, technology and environmental management.
According to him, decisions taken in one area can have consequences in another, making it necessary for engineers to see infrastructure as an interconnected system rather than individual projects.
Hamzat said the state government, under Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had continued to prioritise infrastructure development across transportation, roads and bridges, drainage, energy, water, environmental management and technology.
He urged engineers to contribute not only to design and construction but also to planning, policy formulation, maintenance and sustainable development.
The deputy governor said the challenges facing cities were changing due to population growth, technological advancement and the effects of climate change.
He called for greater innovation, improved use of technology, stronger local capacity and solutions that were technically sound, practical, affordable and sustainable.
Hamzat also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, professional bodies, academia, industry and the private sector.
He said the NSE had an important role to play in public policy discussions and infrastructure development by making its professional knowledge and experience available to government.
He further charged engineers to uphold competence and integrity, noting that professional decisions could affect the safety, livelihoods and quality of life of thousands of people.
To the newly admitted fellows, he said the honour came with greater responsibility to mentor younger engineers, uphold professional standards and contribute to solving the nation’s development challenges.
Earlier, the President of NSE, Mr Ali Rabiu, said the quarterly dinner provided an opportunity to strengthen professional relationships and engage stakeholders from the diplomatic community, development sector, business community and other fields.
Rabiu said the fellowship conferment was the high point of the event, describing it as recognition of years of dedication to engineering and contribution to national development.
He announced that 102 distinguished engineers were admitted into the fellowship of the society.
He, however, reminded the new fellows that the conferment was not the end of their professional journey but the beginning of a higher level of responsibility.
Rabiu urged them to remain committed to the professional codes, standards and ethical principles of engineering.
He said the society would continue to contribute to national conversations and support initiatives promoting good governance, sustainable development and institutional strengthening.
The president also appreciated the Board of Fellows for the rigorous process involved in selecting the new fellows.
He particularly commended the Chairman of the Board of Fellows, Mr Manila Maliki, a fellow of the society, the immediate past Chairman of NSE Lagos Branch, Mrs Olukorede Kesha and members of the board for their commitment to maintaining the standards and prestige of the fellowship.
A representative of the new fellows, speaking on behalf of the recipients, expressed appreciation to the NSE for the recognition.
He said the conferment was an acknowledgement of the recipients’ contributions to the engineering profession and should inspire them to take on greater responsibilities.
He pledged that the new fellows would uphold the values of the society and contribute to the advancement of the profession.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NSE Board of Fellows, Mr Manila Maliki, said the event was more than a celebration, as it was an occasion to honour professional excellence and recognise individuals whose contributions had advanced engineering and national development.
Maliki said the fellowship was one of the highest professional distinctions attainable within the society.
He noted that the honour recognised not only the achievements of the recipients but also the leadership, expertise, integrity and service they had demonstrated throughout their careers.
The event brought together members of the diplomatic community, senior engineers, newly admitted fellows, government representatives and other stakeholders to celebrate professional achievement and discuss the role of engineering in national development. (NAN)
