The immediate past President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Felix Olu, has stated that his administration raised the financial standing of the association from N50m to N100m during his 32 months in office.
Olu disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos during his handover speech at the investiture of the 22nd President of NIEEE, Dr Felix Adegboye, describing his tenure as the 21st President of NIEEE as a rare divine privilege.
“I was called upon suddenly to step into the shoes of my predecessor due to life circumstances, and I served for 32 months. It is usual to serve for 24 months, but mine was a rare divine privilege,” he stated.
He said that during the period under review, the association registered over 700 new members across various categories, including students and corporate bodies, adding that 140 members were conferred with the distinguished fellowship of NIEEE.
“This also brought an increase in the financial strength of the institute, lifting it from the level of less than the N50m threshold that we found in place to well over the N100m threshold,” Olu said.
He added that in a bid to make membership more engaging and accessible, “We were able to set up a portal where new members can apply and register successfully without the need for manual forms or meeting in person.”
In his welcome address, the 22nd President of NIEEE, Dr Felix Adegboye, stated that Nigeria’s challenges are not roadblocks; they are invitations for engineers to rise, to innovate, and to lead.
Adegboye reiterated that the country is faced with numerous challenges, including digital divides, infrastructural gaps, and unemployment, among others, all testing the nation’s resilience.
“Our gathering today takes place at a defining moment in Nigeria’s history. Our nation is confronted with challenges that test our resilience: energy insecurity, digital divides, infrastructural gaps, unemployment, and security concerns. Yet, history teaches us that every great leap forward is born in moments like this. These challenges are not roadblocks; they are invitations for engineers to rise, to innovate, and to lead,” he said.
Adegboye added that the theme of the event, ‘Resilient and Intelligent Digital Solutions: A Sure Way to Economic Growth of Nigeria’, speaks to the calling of electrical and electronic engineers.
He maintained that no nation can industrialise, digitise, or secure its future without reliable power, intelligent systems, robust communication networks, automation, and emerging technologies.
“Engineers are no longer just problem solvers; we are nation builders,” he stated.
Adegboye pointed out that NIEEE occupies a strategic position in this national journey.
“With a membership of about 10,000 professionals across power and clean energy, information and communication technology, automation, avionics, computing, embedded systems, and emerging technologies, NIEEE is uniquely positioned to serve as Nigeria’s foremost technical think tank in electrical and electronic engineering matters. We are custodians of standards, ethics, competence, and innovation,” he stated.
While addressing the gathering, he said that his journey as the 22nd President of NIEEE would be anchored in a simple but powerful philosophy: “empowering the chapters and developing together.” He firmly believes that a strong institute is built from the grassroots upwards.
NIEEE is a professional institute for practitioners in electrical and electronic engineering disciplines in Nigeria.
