PROTOCOL
First and foremost I wish to
thank the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering for the
honour and privilege to serve as the 11th President of the Academy. I
have spent the last two years performing as the Vice President , member of
COUNCIL and the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and
preparing to succeed the outgoing President , Professor Fola Lasisi.
By tradition and the CONSTITUTION my
predecessor, Professor Lasisi, today formally becomes the Immediate Past
President. I thank him for his cooperation and support which I have and continue to receive, since
the formal handing over on July 1st, during a virtual online Annual
General Meeting. This was necessary, due to the restrictions on meetings caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement of the constitution of the
Academy.
I would also like to look
back 20 years and pay tribute to the VISION and WISDOM of the 41 FOUNDING FATHERS
of the Academy. Although half of them have passed on, we still have several
still serving the Academy as the Chairman, Engr V I Maduka and several members
of the Board of Trustees and 5 very active Past PRESIDENTS. All of them are
fully recognised in the brochure published today. They had initiated and set high standards and noteworthy
personal examples, collegiate integrity, professional excellence and formidable
achievements in their various fields of endeavour. We are still inspired and
guided by their sacrifices and examples, today.
Let me continue by presenting
the approved new Vision and Mission Statements of the Nigerian Academy of
Engineering:
VISION STATEMENT: “ To Be a
Leading Think-Tank in the Advancement of Science, Engineering and
Technology.â€
MISSION STATEMENT: “ To
Promote and Advance Science, Engineering and Technology as a Major Driver of
National Development and International Competitiveness.â€
Since the 1st of
July 2020 the Academy has embarked on the implementation of a new and well articulated
5- year Strategic Plan, which was approved by Council in 2019. I consider it
the sole responsibility of the Executive Committee, EXCO to implement, in order
for it to succeed.
This Strategic Plan contains among other
important subjects, the new Vision and Mission Statements, Core Values,
Strategic Areas of Focus, Objectives and Specific Timelines. It describes in abundant
detail, steps for implementation.
Essentially, it seeks to RESTRUCTURE the MODUS
OPERANDI and RE- ENERGISE the CONTENT of
the Academy’s activities, more
efficiently and effectively.
Every Fellow of the Academy
is being encouraged to contribute, by participating in the work of, at least
one of the 15 Standing Council Committees.
The EXCO which reports to
Council has mandated Every Council Committee with a specific set of Terms of
Reference, TOR, which was derived from the Plan, to enable it prepare a 2- year
Strategic plan for the duration of its tenure.
Therefore, ultimately, all
important initiatives, contributions to engineering, science and technology,
and national development and all achievements of the Academy, as a whole, will
reflect the quality of the input and dedication of all its Fellows.
The first part of the
implementation of the Plan was the recruitment of the current Executive Secretary to replace the traditonal Honorary
Secretary, to head the Secretariat. In addition all other staff of the
Secretariat have been re-trained, with improved and updated digital functioning
skills. These actions have already yielded appreciable results in the
efficiency and continuity of operations of the Secretariat, especially during
the current period of COVID-19 pandemic.
I wish to confirm the continued cooperation of
the Academy with all relevant Engineering institutions such the Nigerian
Society of Engineers, NSE, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in
Nigeria, COREN, Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria, ACEN, and
National Board for Technical Education, NBTE. etc
The Academy will also
cooperate with other local and international Academies. As a full member of the
Council of Academies of Engineering, Technology and Science, CAETS the Academy shall
continue to participate fully in all their programmes of activities.
Finally, I wish to
congratulate our newly inducted Fellows on their well deserved elections. I
look forward to welcoming them into the Academy. I expect each and everyone
will quickly join the various Council Committees, where the Academy can benefit
from their unique expertise and experience,
in keeping with their pledges of today.
I thank you all for your
attention and patience.
Engr. Alexander O Ogedegbe,
President, Nigerian Academy
of Engineering.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020.