*Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, challenges the country’s engineers to evolve alternative sources of energy to reduce dependence on petroleum, harness huge employment opportunities in various sectors to create jobs for the youths, and grow the Nigerian economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In harnessing the huge employment opportunities in various sectors of the Nigerian economy for national development, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, has challenged the country’s engineers to innovate alternative sources of energy to reduce dependence on petroleum resources.

ConsumerConnect reports Ogbeni Aregbesola made this submission Monday, January 31, 202, at the 29th Founders’ Day Celebration of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and inauguration of the NSE’s Engineering Resource Centre named after him, in Lagos.

A fellow of the NSE, the Minister for Interior also urged the Nigerian engineers to replicate the Egyptian model of public transport system, in which all the commercial vehicles are running on gas.

This development, according to him, reduces pressure on consumption and continuous subsidy of petrol in the country.

Aregbesola implored engineers to be in the forefront of harnessing the huge employment opportunities in various sectors of the country’s economy in order to create jobs for the youths, and thus grow the economy.

He, however, lamented that lucrative opportunities in underwater welding that required short training for artisans in the oil and gas sector was wasting because Nigerian youths did not have the skills to take up the jobs.

The Minister further encouraged the local engineers to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s power sector by playing a vital role in building a strong foundation for the future of younger ones through its innovative approach to development.

Every aspect of life has bearing on engineering while enumerating roles of engineers in health, telecommunication, industry, power, transportation, construction and other sectors, stated Aregbesola.

He also said: “Everything about human life is engineering.”

The Minister as well called for engineering solutions to problems of overcrowding and housing deficit in Lagos State as the business and commercial hub of the West African country.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to help in saving foreign exchange (Forex) earnings through proper implementation of the Federal Government’s local content policy.

He said NSE and other professional bodies should position themselves to ensure the government received value for money on projects across the nation.

“More than anything, engineers and professionals in general, should re-horn their sense of role and responsibility to the society in a developing economy like ours,” said he.

In his remarks on the occasion, Mr. Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, newly-elected National President of the NSE, charged all NSE branches and districts to begin rural area projects that would have direct impact on the populace.

The NSE President lauded the stakeholders for the inauguration of the new Engineering Resource Tower, and assured an inclusive government, which would ensure welfare and development of engineering.

Mr. Olutosin Ogunmola, Ikeja Branch Chairman of NSE, also said beyond innovations for the country’s economic growth, the tower would be used for training of young engineers in Nigeria.

According to him, the Founders’ Day event was an occasion to celebrate the Ikeja Branch, and acknowledge the contributions of past leaders to inspire the new generation to do more.

Mr. Gasper Olawunmi, former Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and ex-General Secretary of keja Branch of NSE, delivered the 29th Founders’ Day lecture in Lagos.