Behold, Engr. Hon. Andem E. Ekpo-Bassey inaugurated as new National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers!

The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, has officially inaugurated its new National Leadership under the chairmanship of Engr. Hon. Andem E. Ekpo-Bassey, FNICE in Abuja. The event which was chaired by the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Otis Anyaeji was well attended by who is who in Engineering including those from outside Civil Engineering discipline.

Among those in attendance are Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oto-Ita, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FNSE, FAEng (President NSE) Engr. Kashim Ali, FNSE, mni (President COREN), HRH Obong Engr. Ekanem Bassey Ekanem (Clan Head, Nkoro CRS), Chief (Dr.) George Moghalu (National Auditor, APC), Engr Senator Femi Kila, Former President of NICE and a Senator of Federal Republic.

The National EXCOs of NSE also on ground to add more grace to the event. Engr. TSG Wudil, FNSE and Engr. Dr. Edith Ishidi FNSE (Vice Presidents), Engr. Halimat Adeniran, MNSE, vibrant Engr. Engr Ibitoye Kilomodemo Klm FNSE and Engr. Chinyere Igwegbe, MNSE.

Others are: Engr. Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, FNSE (3-time Vice President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE), Engr. Mrs. Mayen Adetiba, FNSE (Past President Association of Consulting Engineers in Nigeria, ACEN), Engr. Engr Ugochukwu Nzurumike (National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, NIMechE), Engr. Anaduaka, FNSE (Chairman, NITHE), Engr. Israel E. Abraham, FNSE Chairman, NIPE), Chairmen of NSE Branches - Port Harcourt, Giri, Auchi, SPE Council, and many more.

Engr Ekpo-Bassey, becomes the 15th National Chairman of NICE, having served as its Deputy National Chairman in the last two years as well as holding other positions over the years. He has worked with such organisations as: Ajoda New town Development Authority, Ibadan; Archisan & Associates; Cross-River Basin Development Authority Calabar. Magabee Engineering Company Limited Cross-Rivers State, where he manage and supervise wide ranging of Civil Engineering and Construction works. The company distinguished itself and was awarded 1st prize from NAFCON in 1995.

Others are; Director at Cross-River State Government Directorate of project Monitoring & Evaluation, Rivers State Planning Commission, Cross Rivers State Water Board.

Engr. Bassey as a Public Administrator is an achiever as in engineering: He was elected as Executive Chairman, Calabar South Local Government Council, Cross Rivers State, Where he served his people with great dedication and selflessness. Prior to this, he had demonstrated leadership capability in Politics among which are: Elected NRC (National Republican Congress) candidate for State House of Assembly, Calabar 1 Constituency 1992 election. Personal Assistant to the Chairman, National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON)-1994; Executive Director (Planning & Research, National Council for the Youth Societies of Nigeria) 1991. GDM (Grass root Democratic Movement) – candidate for Federal House of Representative for Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency 1998 election. Aspirant, Federal House of Representative - PDP, for Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency 2003 election. PDP State Campaign Organization: member, contract and mobilization Committee and hosts of others …

Engr Bassey is member of Polish Society of Engineers, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Fellow of The Nigerian Society of Engineering Technician and also a Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) certified Engineer.

At the event, The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FNSE, Chairman of the occasion, in his opening remarks,

"The Nigerian Engineer occupies a position of top priority in the drive for the development of our Nation, especially, in your core areas of operation being the construction sector of our economy. I charge NICE under the brand new leadership to constitute a think-thank that can come up with progressive policies that can help reform the construction sector"

Engr Ekpo-Bassey would be taking over from the hardworking, Engr. Robbie James Owivry, FNICE under whose tenure NICE returned to claim the first position among the NSE Divisions. He would be supported by Engr Mrs Aishatu Umar Deputy National Chair, Engr Mrs Rahmat Odejayi, National Vice Chairperson, Engr Dapo Onaeko, National Vice Chairman, Engr Jang Tanko, National Vice Chairman, Engr Donald Okeke, Ex-Officio, Engr Tajudeen Ibrahin, Ex-Officio; Engr Olusegun Abiona, Ex-Officio .

The Inaugural lecture was delivered by Chief George Moghalu, National Auditor, APC. (Watch out for the lecture)

Kudos to the Planning committee chaired by Engr Ali Rabiu, and includes, Dr Tunde Olatunji, Dr Ahmed Mustapha, Dr Bunmi Coker, Engr Aishatu Aliyu Umar, Engr Okey Ezema, all Fellow of NSE and NICE. In addition, Engr Olanrewaju Ijirotimi served as its Secretary.