The Nigerian Society of Engineers has inaugurated Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, FNSE, as its 35th President. The investiture ceremony took place on January 17, 2026, in Abuja, where he formally took the oath of office.
A statement from the society on Sunday stated that Rabiu, in his inaugural address, applauded President Bola Tinubu for the “Buy Nigeria First” policy, describing it as a transformative initiative capable of positioning Nigeria as a true giant of Africa.
He noted that the policy aligns with the COREN Act 2018 (as amended) and Executive Order 5, while expressing concern over poor compliance by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
He disclosed that major infrastructure projects worth trillions of naira are being executed without adequate involvement of Nigerian engineers, contrary to existing laws, and emphasised the requirement for MDAs to engage Nigerian engineering professionals from project conception through completion.
Reaffirming his commitment to the vision and mission of the society, he assured members of pragmatic and deliberate steps aimed at repositioning the NSE for greater relevance in national development.
Rabiu stated that his administration would focus on resetting the NSE, strengthening its institutional foundations, and restoring its role as a critical driver of engineering excellence and national progress. According to him, the moment calls for reflection on the values and leadership that shaped the Society, as well as a renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and accountability.
“I approach today’s investiture as the 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with deep honour and a renewed sense of responsibility. Having served as President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, many believed my journey in engineering leadership had reached its natural conclusion. I, too, felt that way, until I was compelled by a wave of concerned and passionate engineers who could no longer ignore the gradual drift of our great Society from its core ideals,” he said.
Rabiu explained that the call for institutional renewal, bold reforms, and strategic repositioning motivated his return to leadership, stressing that his decision was driven by conviction rather than ambition.
“This return is not driven by ambition, but by conviction. Today, I reaffirm that commitment with clarity, courage, and a deep sense of duty,” he added.
The new NSE president acknowledged the commendable reforms undertaken by previous administrations, noting that while they laid a necessary foundation, the present moment demands strategic clarity, bold thinking, and a stronger alignment with national priorities.
He revealed that his administration would be guided by the NSE Strategic Document, a 10-year blueprint recently approved by the Council, describing it as a directional framework that would shape policies, actions, and engagements.
According to him, his presidency will focus on five strategic pillars derived from the document: Membership Development, Strategic Partnerships, International Relations, Community Impact, and Institutional Branding.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Senator Pius Anyim, congratulated Rabiu and urged him to strengthen the Engineering Regulation Monitoring to address the recurring incidents of building collapse across the country. He also called for stronger collaboration with relevant authorities to curb quackery in the engineering sector.
Similarly, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Patrick Ndubueze, pledged the Senate’s support for the NSE, affirming its readiness to work closely with the Society to advance engineering development in Nigeria.
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, FNSE, described Rabiu’s presidency as a timely opportunity to elevate professional standards and strengthen policy influence. He called on stakeholders across government, the private sector, academia, and development partners to support the new administration in leveraging engineering expertise for effective governance, economic diversification, job creation, and national competitiveness.
