Few days ago, precisely, on the November 9 2018, the Hall of Sheraton Hotels and Towers Ikeja hosted a diverse group of professionals and dignitaries from engineering to management, from public sector to private sector, from humanity to Business to witness the official change of baton from Akin Akintola to Engr Funmilade Akingbagbohun.
It was a huge day for engineering and the NSE as the Branch celebrated yet, another smooth leadership transition for which the engineers are renowned. The event attracted two past NSE Presidents in person of Engr Dr Ajayi, Engr Ademola Olorunfemi, Immediate past President o Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Engr Mrs Olu Maduka and the current NSE President, Engr Adekunle Mokuolu who chaired the event. Others are Deputy President Engr Babagana Muhammed, Engr Adeniran Ibitoye, Dr AbdulRasheed Babalola, Engr Halima Adeniran all of National Executive members. The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Olayinka Akinsanye was ably represented by the Permanent Sceretary at the Ministry Engr Hotonu. Also on the roaste Hon Olugbenga Edema, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Chairman, Engr Oluwafemi Akarakiri, SSA to Ondo State Governor on Energy and Mineral, Prof Toyin Ashiru, Grp Cpt John Obakpolor etc while HRH Oba Adebisi Rosiji Okubanjo, the Obiri of Idobiri Aiyepe Ijebu Ogun state, was the Royal Father of the day and many more…
While we celebrated the emergence of the new Chairman, it is pertinent to also appreciate the outgoing chairman whose services to the Branch are worth commending. He is Engr Akin Akintola. Serving the Branch (and engineering) for a period lasting 15 years (and still counting) must be wholesome achievement worth celebrating. Incidentally, this writer’s journey at the Branch started just about 14 years ago when he was the technical Secretary of the Branch and I was co-opted as Graduate/Students Coordinator to midwife a programme for Young Engineers under Engr Michael Abiodun Awe who I will described as a forward thinking and natural leader with knack for spotting and nurturing talents among younger people. It is a fitting legacy therefore to celebrate this man under whom my mentoring and adventure in NSE began.
The first thing I noticed about Engr Akintola was his tendency to relate well with all including paying attention to the young engineers. He would call; he would offer himself to assist. His phone is always ringing from one engineer to another who is seeking one form of professional guide and assistant or showing appreciation. In the midst of these all, he would gladly, as a true servant of engineering, offered his time and even go as far as following up. Such a bundle of energy! Such selfless leader! Hats off to the indefatigable engineer!
In the beginning…
25 years ago, 11 eminent personalities led by Engr Olu Awoyinfa mooted the idea of establishing the Ikeja Branch of the NSE. What started as a an idea soon become a full blown concept as they put machinery in motion to give the engineers in Ikeja industrial area their own house under the NSE. The Branch is unique in the sense that from inception, the founders of the Branch and the early generation built on the premise that it will produce independent minded leaders and also reinvent itself in the course of time.
15 out of 25 …
Ikeja Branch of NSE was founded 25 years ago. Engr Akintola’s journey with the Branch however started exactly 15 years ago when he was elected as an Executive Committee Member (Ex-Officio) under the Chairmanship of Engr Adekunle Adebajo. He returned to service when he was elected as the Technical Secretary in August 2005 under the leadership of Engr Michael Abiodun Awe. Since then, he had served under Engr Dr T. M Olatunji, Engr Mrs Margaret. Aina Oguntala, Engr Bola Bido, Engr Adeolu Ogundare. He has also served at National level under various committees as well as a National Executive Member.
And he trusted with leadership…
On August 2016, Engr Akintola was elected the 12th Chairman of the Branch in 2016. In the next few months, he put his best foot on ground to build on the legacies of the Branch’s founding fathers.
Stewardship of a selfless leader…
During the two years his team made conscious efforts at resetting the momentum for the next journey for the Branch as they build on the foundation that has been laid. Some of the modest accomplishments outside of the major projects and programmes aside the regular too numerous to mention are
- Completion of The Ralph Alabi Engineering Phase 1 Building to a habitable state
- Secure a donation of a 3 nos, 5 tonne Air-Conditioner Units by Engr Adeniyi Ogunsanya and installation at the Engr Olu Awoyinfa Hall.
- Secure a donation of a 100kva Transformer by Engr Olu Ogunduyile FNSE, FNIEEE and installation for the use of the Branch.
- Award of Engr Kayode Adekoya Bursary Award to 2 Indigent Students during the year
- Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the existence of NSE Ikeja Branch which brought together great luminaries from the Branch as well as their associates.
- Launch of History book- Still the Branch to Beat- of the Branch to commemorate its 25 year journey and celebrate its heroes. Scores of elders and supporters of the Branch in the past 25 years were honour with Medal by the Branch.
- During his tenure, the Branch also clinched the Second position at the prestigious Annual Group Dynamics Competition losing out to the eventual winner by 0.5 points.
- The Branch also organised the first Career fair which attracted thousands of enthusiastic young minds in conjunction with the “getJob’’
- other programmes conducted during the period as usual Olu Awoyinfa lecture in honour of the Branch founder, Ralph Alabi Memorial Lecture, in honour of the first chairman of the Branch; Engr Kayode Adekoya Scholarship in honour of Engr Kayode Adekoya, one of the founding members of the Branch. This not excluding various events for young engineers, training for practicing engineers, Project Skills for secondary schools, Business luncheon to connect Engineers and Business community, Annual Awards to honour distinguished engineers
In his farewell speech, he attributed his success to his predecessors while also saying that his ” success is not complete until my Successor achieve all set goals and aspirations,” Further, he philosophized: “we are not in contest but we are in a relay, mindful of the track and the audience, there are many who are non-focused; only to cheer and share the good moments only, but when trouble comes the focused only will be there to share the bad and hard times with you, please identify them and run your race with them.”
Akintola, ever willing, left some words for the new Chair as he charged her to ‘’ leave for those coming after you for the future, do the little you can from the numerous things to do,’
written by Isqil Najim
