Lack of funds hinders full performance of NIEEE –Engr. Olabode…….Unfolds plans to move institute forward

Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE) Lagos Chapter, Engr. Olalekan Oyedokun Olabode,  has identified lack of funds to be hindering the full performance of the institute.

Engr. Olabode stated this last Thursday during his investiture as the 7^th Chairman of the Institute held at Lagos Sheraton Hotels and Towers Ikeja.

Stating that the mission of the institute is to promote professional competence and excellence among members through innovative contributions and development of sustainable solutions to challenging engineering problems for the benefit of mankind, Olabode, however, said: “The lack of funds has been the cankerworm eating the fabrics of the institute to underperform her full potentials”

In spite of this challenge, the NIEEE state Chairman stated that the executive members held a retreat on July 31, 2021, where they came up with appropriate strategies to nip the challenges in the bud.

The strategies, Olabode said included aggressive membership drive and the creation of alternative sources of chapter’s activities funding “in strict compliance with transparency and accountability”.

‘We don’t plan to reinvent the wheel, but we shall put in hardwork to continue the transformation of the wheel of progress by consolidating on the past achievements as we endeavour to take the chapter to a new pedestal.

“To achieve this, we would run an all-inclusive administration where all members are carried along and their views are catered for, through regular consultations and interaction in an exciting and creative manner while adhering strictly to COVID-19 protocols.

“In this wise, we intend to significantly empower our members through online and web-based communication platforms in real terms more than we have up until this moment”, Olabode, who is a Fellow of the Institute stated.

Also as part of plans and projections of his administration, the Chairman said NIEEE would wor with the Nigerian Society of Engineering (NSE) branches within Lagos State “with the aim of positioning NIEEE as professionals to handle prevailing electrical and electronic components of the societal problems”.

He also stated that during his administration, the Institute would explore untapped resources latent in well-structured mutual collaborative programmes and projects with major corporate and multi-lateral agencies, such as NEMSA, SON, DISCOs and COREN that can result in positive benefits the members of the institute and the country at large.

Olabode added that his tenure would extend olive branches to the NIEEE Student members in all the tertiary institutions in Lagos State by engaging in interactive sessions to prepare them for the working environment after graduation and the dire need to embrace entrepreneurship instead of job hunting.

‘Because we are STEP-UP Transformers, we shall remain an immensely distinguished architect in the vanguard of NIEEE at large with a major aim of pushing forward LAGOS CHAPTER OF PACE SETTERS”, the NIEEE Lagos Chapter chairman further stated.

The Guest Speaker, who is also the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), FGN Power Company Limited, Engr. Idowu Oyebanjo, talked on Addressing Network Infrastructure Gaps: A panacea for the commercial viability of the Nigerian Power sector: The Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) Approach.

Engr. Oyebanjo said the PPI was conceived during a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on August 31, 2018.

According to him, the aim of the Initiative is to rehabilitate and expand the nation’s generation portfolio including transmission and distribution networks to meet future power needs.

The projects, he said, spanned three phases of two years each with the ultimate objective of delivering 25GW to electricity consumers across Nigeria at the end of a six-year programme.

He said the PPI would deliver much-needed electricity needs drive growth expansion of Nigeria’s economy.

Oyebanjo further stated that the Initiative has the overall objective of promoting Federal Government’s efforts to develop critical electrification infrastructure that will improve quality of life for Nigerians.

Other objectives according to him, include hi the high quality, long-lasting solutions and extensive expertise that Siemens will bring to bare in transforming the Nigerian power; showcasing the importance of the project and engender commitment from all the stakeholders and citizens.

The PPI also has the overall objective of informing stakeholders and the public about milestones achieved during project execution and showcasing improved quality and reliability of power supply across the country.

The Guest Speaker pointed out that part of the overall objective of the PPI is to promote opportunities for Nigerian youth and enterprises to contribute to local content development.

The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented on the occasion by the Director Power), Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral  Resources, Engr. Hafeez Momoh, congratulated the new Chairman of NIEEE Lagos Chapter, Engr. Olabode, and look forward for a better existing relationship between the Institute and the state government.

The Governor said the state government had presented a Consultation Paper on the Lagos State Electricity Policy that will serve as a blue-print to achieve the state government’s vision for universal access to electricity in the state which is expected to be a key driver of the social and economic development aspirations of the state as part of the government’s 30-year development Plan (2021-2051).

According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the policy resulting from the consultation process is expected to drive development towards a future where security and sustainability of electricity supply is assured. He added that it should contribute to reducing carbon emissions and thus improve the conditions of all Lagosians.

For a better society