The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, FNSE, F.ASCE, FAEng, MFR, has called on politicians seeking elective offices to make governance and development issues the centrepiece of their electioneering campaigns, rather than allowing trivialities to dominate public discourse.
Engr. Rabiu urged political actors to avoid actions and rhetoric capable of unnecessarily overheating the polity during the campaign period, stressing the need to focus attention on the perennial challenges that continue to impede Nigeria’s development.
The NSE President made the call on Thursday in Lagos while speaking at the Society’s Third Quarter Dinner Ceremony. The NSE Quarterly Dinner provides a platform for the Society to engage with senior government officials, industry leaders, members of the academia, the diplomatic community and other stakeholders on issues of national importance and development.
Engr. Rabiu said democratic governance thrives on “mutual respect, constructive engagement and a shared commitment to the common good.” According to him, as a professional body committed to national development, the Nigerian Society of Engineers believes that public discourse should promote understanding, inclusiveness and sustained attention to issues that directly affect the lives and wellbeing of citizens.
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He said, “I therefore encourage all stakeholders in our political and democratic processes to continue to engage one another with civility, respect and a spirit of patriotism, even where legitimate differences of opinion exist, our diversity of views is an important feature of democracy, what should unite us, however, is our shared commitment to the peace, stability and development of Nigeria”.
“I also wish to encourage all relevant institutions and stakeholders in our electoral processes, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to continue to uphold the rules, procedures and institutional responsibilities entrusted to them”. He added.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Engr. Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, FNSE, commended the Nigerian Society of Engineers for sustaining the Quarterly Dinner as a platform for dialogue and engagement between government and critical stakeholders. Hamzat noted the importance of continued collaboration between government and professional institutions in attracting development and strengthening good governance.
He assured the Society of the Lagos State government’s continued willingness to engage with professional bodies in advancing development initiatives and finding practical solutions to challenges confronting the state.
A major highlight of the event was the conferment of the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers on 102 distinguished Engineers in recognition of their professional accomplishments and contributions to the engineering profession and national development.
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