Our Pioneers in
engineering include Herbert Heelas Macaulay (1893) who is regarded as the doyen
of Nigerian Engineers. He was a civil
engineer who practiced Land Surveying which is only part of his training. He finally made his mark as a nationalist in
politics where he is regarded as the father of modern Nigerian Politics.
Other university
graduate engineers that followed were George ‘Debayo Agbebi (1911) Ishola Philips
(1930), Robert O Staverley (1934) Adekunle Coker (1934), Oladotun Coker (1935)
Ekundayo Ajayi (1936) and Adeniyi Williams (1936)
Engr. Chief
Adeniyi Williams (President, NSE 1959-62) had a successful civil service career
where he retired as Chief Engineer from the University of Ibadan in the 1970s. Another Past President, Engr. Igiehon, FNSE
succeeded him and retired from the same Institution. (Oyeleye October lecture,
14 October 1988)
The next group
of engineers did not qualify until the late 40s partly because of the 2nd
World war (1939-1945) and partly because of lack of effective utilization of
Nigerian Engineers, which discouraged enrolment in engineering in the first place.
These engineers
were substantially graduates of Yaba Higher College, which was established in
1934, and later went abroad to qualify.
They were mainly civil Engineers, the most senior of them was Mr. Iweka
(1946). At independence in 1960, we had
directors of works, Engr. S. O. Williams (Lagos) Engr. (Dr) T. M. Aluko
(Ibadan) Mr. Uzodike (Enugu) and an expatriate, Mr. Jones (Kaduna).(Oyeleye
October lecture, 14 October 1988)
The three Nigerians, (Williams, Aluko &
Uzodike) according to records, enjoyed some measure of understanding. They enjoyed the respect of their politician
contemporaries. They were professionals
with wide experience. The then strong
civil service tradition of respect for sound professional advice and the fact
that the previous expatriate Directors of works were members of the Government
at cabinet level was of great assistance to them. Their areas of contribution were on road
construction, water supply and government housing development. The later generation of civil engineers
(Fadahunsi, Akande, Usman, Osili, Uzodike, and later Otobo) built the tradition
of excellence in the civil service.
The Nigerian
Railways was the citadel of Mechanical Engineering before independence. Where another former NSE President, J.C.
Egbuna and FAO Philips set records.
Engr. Dr. Demola
Banjo and Engr. M.N.A. Manafa (Manafa Power) another Past President of NSE,
were Pioneers in the Electricity
Industry. They were of high quality
and caliber.
In education, the likes of Prof.
Oladapo, Prof Adekola, Prof Orangun, Prof. V. A. Williams, Prof Owolabi, Prof
Enahoro, Prof Kuale, Prof Makanjuola, Prof Ogunye and a host of others made
their indelible marks.
In design and consultancy, Obi Obembe
& Associates, Enplan Group, Yolas Consultants, Ette Aro & Partners,
Yaroson & Partners, Teckno Consults and a host of others have their
footprints printed on the sand of times.
In the telecommunications sectors,
Engr. V.A. Haffner, Engr. A.A. Bodede, Engr. Teju Oyeleye (Past President)
Engr. V. I. Maduka (Past President) and others, were the success stories.
In effect, the
Nigerian Engineer made impact in all facets of our national development.
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