The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch, on Monday graduated 92 young engineers from the 2025 cohort of its Adigun Arewa Mentorship Scheme (NIBAAMS).

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Lagos, the Chairman of the branch, Mrs Nimot Muili, said that the scheme aimed at improving employability, professional development and industry readiness.

The NIBAAMS 2025 graduation ceremony, with the theme: “Developing Industry-Ready Engineers for Sustainable Impact,” attracted beneficiaries from across the country.

Muili said the six-month programme provided structured mentorship, workplace-readiness training, leadership development, industry exposure and employability support for participants.

She said the mentorship scheme, revived in 2025, was designed to equip young engineers with practical skills, career guidance and professional networks needed to thrive in the profession.

“The programme enrolled over 250 young engineers, with 65 mentees and 27 mentors completing the current cohort.

“It exposed mentees to training in project management, communication, workplace etiquette, safety and leadership development,” she explained.

The NSE Chairman commended mentors, committee members and partners for their contributions to the programme’s success and urged young engineers to embrace continuous learning and seek mentorship throughout their careers.

The Chairman of the Resource Portal and Job Desk (RPJD) Committee, Mr Peter Ogunbowale, said the programme was restructured following lessons from the 2022 edition.

Ogunbowale stressed that the restructuring was to address gaps in workplace readiness, professional confidence and industry exposure among young engineers.

He said the branch also transformed NIBAAMS into a professionally governed mentorship ecosystem with measurable outcomes.

He said that the outcomes were measured through structured mentor-mentee matching, performance evaluation, reporting systems and digital learning platforms.

The committee chairman noted that the programme engaged 34 mentors and 85 mentees, while delivering capacity-building sessions, industrial visits and employability support.

Ogunmola said that 65 of the 85 enrolled mentees completed the six-month programme, while 27 mentors were recognised for effective participation.

“We focused on workplace readiness, leadership development, professional branding and industry exposure.

“Success was measured by the transformation recorded in participants’ lives and careers,” he said.

Ogunbowale said the programme had helped mentees gain confidence, clarify career goals and become more intentional about their professional development.

He added that the programme had improved the employability of young engineers through structured mentoring and skills development.

He added that the next cohort would commence in August 2026.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr Olutosin Ogunmola, a Fellow of the NSE, urged young engineers to pursue their ambitions boldly and take advantage of leadership and innovation opportunities.

Speaking on the topic, “Do Not Ask Permission to Fly; The Wings Are Yours, and the Sky Belongs to No One,” Ogunmola described mentorship as critical to professional growth and leadership development.

He said Nigeria’s infrastructure, energy and technology challenges presented opportunities for engineers to develop innovative solutions and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Ogunmola, who received the best mentor award at the programme, encouraged the graduands to embrace lifelong learning, remain adaptable and use their skills to solve problems and improve society.

“Do not ask permission to fly. The wings are yours, and the sky belongs to no one,” he said.

Some mentees, including Mr Ismail Abdulakeem, who received a consistency and commitment award, shared experiences and benefits gained from the programme.

Mentors, including Mr Babajide Ajanaku, also highlighted the impact of the initiative and the value of mentorship in shaping engineering careers.

The programme was supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and featured awards and certificate presentations to both mentees and mentors.