By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
No fewer than 350 graduate engineers of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi were at the weekend, inducted, with the ceremony organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students (NUESA), ATBU Chapter
The NSE State Chairman, Engineer Mohammed Hadi Ibrahim at the 1st induction held at 1,000 seat capacity complex of the institution, said the ceremony was part of the process of becoming a registered engineer.
He said, “Initially before their graduation they are called student members but now that they have graduated and upgraded, their membership turns to private membership after induction,”
According to the NSE chairman, the induction ceremony was significant because it was the maiden edition and ATBU is one of the few Universities in the North East that carries out the induction process.
“We mentored these students from their admission point and their graduation and I don’t have any iota of doubt of their academic excellence and performance. I believe they can face any challenge wherever they find themselves as graduate engineers of ATBU”.
Dr. Hadi added, “As an engineer, you are expected to be discipline, bridge the gap between what is obtainable and practicable work outside. I believe they are up to the task and can go to any length in terms of achievements”
Also speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Abdulazeez congratulated the new inductees on the bulk membership registration, and urged them to work hard, be disciplined and maintain focus in order to establish themselves and succeed in their chosen profession.
Represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Ibrahim Dodo Suleiman, the Vice Chancellor revealed that the induction of graduate emginners would soon be centralized in universities across the country.
In a goodwill message, the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Sarki Abdullahi, described engineering as a profession that is dedicated to serving humanity in all endeavours.
Professor Abdullahi, urged the graduate engineers to count themselves fortunate for choosing engineering as a profession.
He however appealed to them to students to wait for the University Senate to approve their results and issue them degrees before parading themselves as engineers.
Abdullahi urged the graduate enginner inductees to be responsible inorder to reach the zenith of the profession, saying
“Now you are graduate members, after five years you become a corporate members.”
“By the time you practice for as a corporate member for 10 years or thereabout, you can then apply to be a Fellow, which is one of the highest esteemed positions as an engineer.
“From there we have others such as the Africa Society of Engineers, the Global ones among others. The only way to participate is to be responsible by paying annual dues of practice”.
Professor Robinson Ejilah, the first Nigerian elected member of Board of Directors for Engineers Without Borders, has in a Goodwill message, urged the Nigerian government to place priority on education of engineers, scientists and technicians to accelerate the development of the country.
Robinson, who was the 13th National Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers, told the engineer graduate inductees that, “Engineer as a profession is a profession destined for greatness”.
“All that you have acquired all these years you are going to impact it in a manner that will bring about speedy and transformative national development.
“I want to associate with your successes stories and I am delighted as your parents who are also here with us. I am proud as a teacher and hope you end up as engineers that can bring about transformative change and human development”, Robinson concluded
