Engr. Benjamin Jime Lorlumun Akaakar the head of Technical Services in the SCIN FEED Office, Central Engineering Department of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and Engineer Tele Ikuru, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State were among personalities honoured by the Nigeria Society of Engineer, Rivers State Branch.
Engr. Akaakar, FNSE, was presented with the Best Exco Member award, while Engr. Ikuru was bestowed with Unique Contribution to the Branch Award.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Hotel Port Harcourt during the annual lecture/award by the NSE Rivers State Branch.
In his address, Engr. Dennis Abu Azebeokai Dania MNSE the chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers Rivers State branch while congratulating the awardees, noted that the award bestowed on the members was to appreciate their contributions to the branch and a reward to spur the recipients to more commitment and contributions to the growth and development of the branch and engineering in general.
According to him, the utmost desire of the branch is to see its members breaking a new ground in their highly treasured profession in the ever technologically changing world and making the branch and the society an entity of pride, adding that the mission statement set out for the engineers and the challenges ahead of members was to collectively work towards the objective by effectively galvanishing the endowed talents and resources in synergy and in strong communication link with the industry and organized private sector which is necessary for the engineers to have the opportunity to give the desired contribution to the society for sustainable national development.
In his speech Senator George Thompson Sekibo, the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the Senate who was also the special guest of honour, described engineering profession as important in the society, expressing joy for being among the engineers.
According to him, the profession’s importance cannot be overemphasized they manifest in the structures building, standard and contribute to every human endeavour.
Dr. Sekibo who is also a masters degree holder in Environmental Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, noted that there were many things about life that have to do with the engineer, such as collapse of bridge, construction of roads and road that does not last, stressing that the engineers have fundamental problems in that regard.
He however called on engineers to always ensure that they get the standard the society needed or expect from the engineers.
In his lecture titled, Environment is it leadership? Chief Engr. Fakae FNSE past chairman Rivers branch of the NSE who was the guest lecturer lamented over the state of unclean environment in Nigeria attributing it to the neglect of environment by Nigerians.
The guest lecturer who noted that the foreign countries have clean environment compared to Nigerian environment, noted that the reasons for the unclean environment was neglect and insensitive to their environment despite infrastructural development by Nigerian leaders and urged Nigerians to be conscious and sensitive to their environment as to have clean environment.
In a chat with the political editor of The Newswriter, shortly after the ceremony, engineer Akaakar one of the awardees, said that the award would spur him to be more active in the association.
Akaakar who has MBA Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt and a former lecturer at the Chemical Engineering Department of Kaduna State Polytechnic advised members of the association not to lose sight of their goal, rather should have the ability to achieve their objective of the world leading engineers.
Other members of the association who were presented with awards include Chief Engr. G. Massari FNSE, Engr. Charles Iheanyi Ngoka MNSE, Engr. Adebis Otukoya MNSE, Madam Erefori Nawamaeba, Engr. Chief MD Derefaka FMSE, Basoene J. Benibo FNSE, Engr. George O. Okoya FNSE, Engr. Austine BobManuel MNSE.
Others are Engr. Mrs. Rose Chukwuogo MNSE, Ms Peace M. Takrih, Fadoyeni Stephen Tope, Dr. Mrs. Justina E. Ahme Stemco Limited and past chairman of the Nigeria society of Engineer were presented award certificates.
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
