The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Oluyole Branch, has called for increased investment in engineering skills development as a catalyst for innovation, industrialisation, and sustainable economic growth, while inducting a new set of members into the Branch during its 2026 Engineering Week Dinner and Induction Ceremony held in Ibadan.
The Dinner and Induction Ceremony marked the grand finale of the Branch’s week-long 2026 Engineering Week, themed “Promoting Engineering Excellence for National Development.”
The celebration featured a wide range of activities, including a Public Health Lecture, Career Talk, Community Outreach to the Motherless Babies Home and Oni & Sons Children’s Hospital, an Industrial Visit, a Public Lecture, and other professional engagements aimed at advancing engineering practice and promoting community development.
Speaking at the dinner, the Chairman of the NSE Oluyole Branch, Engr. Saheed Busari, MNSE, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen engineering skills development to drive innovation and position Nigeria for sustainable economic growth.
Delivering his address on the dinner lecture theme, “Building the Future: Engineering Innovation and Skills for Economic Growth,” Engr. Busari noted that Nigeria’s aspirations for industrialisation, energy security, infrastructure development, and technological advancement could only be realised through sustained investment in engineering education, innovation, and practical skills.
He observed that competencies in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and local manufacturing would be critical to reducing the country’s dependence on imports and improving industrial competitiveness.
According to him, one of the greatest challenges confronting the engineering profession is the widening gap between university education and industry expectations.
He therefore called on governments, tertiary institutions, industry, and professional bodies to collaborate in reviewing engineering curricula, expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and investing in research capable of delivering practical, made-in-Nigeria solutions.
“We must build our engineers before we can build our nation. With the right skills, innovation, and professional competence, engineering will remain the engine for industrial growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and national prosperity,” he said.
The highlight of the evening was the formal induction of new members into the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Oluyole Branch.
The inductees took the Oath of Allegiance and were formally decorated as members of the Branch, signifying their commitment to professionalism, ethical engineering practice, and continuous professional development.
Addressing the new members, Engr. Busari reaffirmed the Branch’s commitment to mentorship, capacity building, and providing opportunities for young engineers to develop the competencies required to excel in an increasingly dynamic profession.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Taiwo Oyedemi, FNSE, described engineering skills as a major driver of industrialisation, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
He noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant natural resources and population of over 220 million people, the manufacturing sector contributes less than nine per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), largely because industries continue to face shortages of work-ready engineers equipped with digital, project management, and sustainable engineering skills.
Dr. Oyedemi advocated regular curriculum reviews, stronger practical training, interdisciplinary research, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as closer collaboration between academia and industry to facilitate the commercialisation of research outputs.
“For Nigeria to achieve sustainable economic growth, government, academia, industry, professional bodies, and individual engineers must work together to build a highly skilled engineering workforce capable of solving today’s challenges while creating tomorrow’s opportunities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Oyo State, Engr. Olayinka Alli, FNSE, charged the newly inducted members to embrace continuous learning throughout their careers.
He explained that engineering practice is constantly evolving and that professional competence must be continuously developed through training, certification, and lifelong learning.
“Being inducted into the Society is only the beginning of your professional journey. Engineering is dynamic, and if you fail to continually upgrade your knowledge and skills, you risk becoming obsolete,” he advised.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to deserving individuals for their outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, alongside networking sessions that brought together engineering professionals, academics, industry leaders, and other stakeholders.
The successful conclusion of the 2026 Engineering Week reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Oluyole Branch, to promoting engineering excellence, professional development, innovation, and nation-building through impactful programmes that continue to shape the future of the engineering profession in Nigeria.