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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers has held its investiture ceremony and inauguration of the Bayelsa State branch, as well as advised government to invest hugely in the power sector to grow the economy and attract investors.
National chairman of Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Engr. Dr Robinson Ejilah, during the investiture ceremony of Engr. Eluanatein Mac Jokori as the second chapter chairman in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, noted the importance of mechanical engineering towards the industrialization of Nigeria, and stressed that the profession plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of the country.
According to Dr Ejilah, who is a lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU), mechanical engineering brings social transformation, as its impact on the industrial revolution in Europe, and can still do same today. “Mechanical Engineering boosts trade and commerce, and of course an overall improvement in the people’s living.”
Dr Ejilah who traced the history of mechanical engineering to the era of the industrial revolution stated that the profession is one discipline that cuts across all spheres of life including politics. “We need to achieve this by shaping public policies. When government brings up policies we need to interpret them for the policies makers,” he said.
He therefore urged mechanical engineers to make themselves visible in the legislation process, where they can shape policies and bills, and called on government to work on the quality of mechanical engineering education.
“At least, the kind of engineering curriculum that was used in the last ten years is not what we have today,” he said, adding that Mechanical Engineering students should be asked to produce equipment (e.g. food processors), and by doing that it will create jobs and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
He stressed that mechanical engineering is key to power supply as energy is generated before it can be transmitted and distributed,” adding that the business of power generation is purely that of mechanical engineering, “be it thermal power or solar power, as we need to harness the course of nature and transform them. The business of power generation is ours, because if you don’t transfer mechanical energy into other forms of energy, you will never get electric power,” he said.
The new chairman of Yenagoa chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Engineers, Engr. Eluanatein Mac Jokori, said his tenure will embark on membership drive and welfare.
According to him, that is synonymous to the livewire of any organization. “We shall carry out an aggressive membership drive and retention strategy to improve and sustain our momentum using the social media and other medium to identify and bring to the fold our members and source for improved conditions of service.”
He also disclosed that his agenda will include training and certification of members, while students and young engineers will be encouraged and mentored.
He also intends to embark on power generation advocacy.
Speaking to journalists earlier, Engr Jokori said as an expert in the power sector, with over 12 years’ experience as gas turbine engineer, he identified major challenges facing power generation in Bayelsa State, which include non-availability of power, noting that this will continue to militate against the state until panacea are proffered.
He posited that power is paramount to Bayelsa State development drive and when tackled with political will one power station is capable of creating well over 200 job opportunities for the unemployed teeming population.
He said “all the eight local government areas have gas, if we want to go into power generation, gas turbine will be the best option to power and that will attract investors, the Bayelsa State government need to employ mechanical engineers. For us to attract investors we need power as every business is driven by power, hence availability of power will invariably attract investors.”
He said: “If Bayelsa State wants to move forward, then the time has come for us to invest in power. We as Nigerian Institution of Engineers are ready to partner with the government in terms of professional services, and we do that we know we will move forward”
The out-going chairman, Engr. Raymond Awana, said his leadership was eventful and recorded some legacies.
According to him, the story of the organization is an oscillating one which started with the constitution of an interim executive committee in 2006, election of the first executive committee 10 years after in March 2016, and official inauguration of Yenagoa chapter in September 2017. He said the chapter under his watch did not fault in regular meetings, professional development, collaboration, membership drive and inauguration of students.
Highlight of the occasion was the inauguration of an 11-man executive committee that will pilot the affairs of the organization for the next two years and presentation of awards to deserving members.
