The Apapa Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal and State Governments to give local engineers more opportunities to handle major projects.
Mr Emmanuel Okolo, the Chairman of the branch, made the appeal on monday during a press briefing to mark the beginning of the 2025 Engineering Week and the 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the branch.
According to Okolo, although several Executive Orders on local content have been signed, more attention needs to be given to their implementation. He said that this would ensure that the capacity of Nigerian engineers is properly harnessed to drive speedy economic growth.
He stressed that local engineers were competent to lead key projects, adding that they had consistently pursued goals for economic development and industrialisation of the country and should be encouraged with more opportunities.
Okolo also disclosed that the Apapa Branch carried out nine industrial visits in the past year, in addition to hosting seminars designed to support the nation’s all-round development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after the briefing, the branch held a Technical Workshop anchored by Mr Loko Ajibola, a Senior Corrosion Engineer from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
It was titled “Corrosion Engineering in Port Environments: Lessons from Case Studies”.
Okolo further announced that the branch would embark on a humanitarian visit to the Red Cross and motherless baby homes on Tuesday, while a public lecture and indoor games would hold on Wednesday at the branch secretariat.
The AGM is scheduled for Thursday, during which elections for new officers — except the chairman — will be conducted via electronic voting.
Highlighting achievements of the branch, he said capacity-building initiatives and welfare programmes for members had been prioritised over the past year.
