At a time Nigerian Engineers were massively discriminated against by the colonial masters who whose policy is to place local engineers under the services of British technicians, with a lot of outcry that led to many senior engineers exiting the civil services; a group of young radical engineers who had been trained abroad, met in London to consider the formation of a pressure group and a professional body.
Since its formation in England in 1958 under the leadership of Engr Olateju Oyeleye and Engr. Chief G.O. Aiwereoba, Nigerian Society of Engineers has since become the largest body of engineers in Africa with over 70 Branches and over 25 Divisions. On February, 2018, it marked its 60 years of its founding.
Among the young engineers who were the founding members of the NSE in London is HRH R. A. Obioha (now a king in Orlu), the only living member of the original founding members. On February, 2018, NSE marked its 60 years of its founding.
The Orlu Branch of the NSE is putting together Annual Lecture Series in Honour of HRH Eze Engr R.A. OBIOHA,FNSE.
Tagged: "HRH EZE R. A. OBIOHA ANNUAL_LECTURE SERIES"; the inaugural edition will hold as scheduled below:
Date: Saturday, 2nd June, 2018
Time: 11.00 am,
Venue: Banquet Hall Orlu recreation Club, Opposite L.G.A. Secretariat, Orlu, Imo.
The event which will be chaired by NSE President Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu will also have in attendance, some past presidents, Branch chairmen, various political and business leader, engineering, judiciary chiefs and traditional rulers.
On hand to present the Inaugural Lecture is Engr Chidi K. C. Izuwah, Ag. Director General/CEO, The Presidency Infrastructure Concession and regulatory Commission (ICRC), who will speak on. "Subnational Transportation and Urban Infrastructures's Role in Sustainable Development: The IPP Imperative" while Senator Hope Uzodinma , representing Orlu Senatorial Zone is expected to also grace the event along with other dignitaries. While HRH Eze Dr. C. J. Okwara, Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers is the Royal Father of the Day.
Orlu Branch was created out of and with support of Owerri Branch to Carter for the growing population of engineers in Orlu and it's environ. It was inaugurated by immediate past president Otis Anyaeji in.. with Engr Chidoze Okereke as it's pioneer president. The branch has since garnered speed it is efforts at becoming one of most vibrant Branches in the country.
The event which will be chaired by NSE President Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu will also have in attendance, some past presidents, Branch chairmen, various political and business leader, engineering, judiciary chiefs and traditional rulers.
On hand to present the Inaugural Lecture is Engr Chidi K. C. Izuwah, Ag. Director General/CEO, The Presidency Infrastructure Concession and regulatory Commission (ICRC), who will speak on. "Subnational Transportation and Urban Infrastructures's Role in Sustainable Development: The IPP Imperative" while Senator Hope Uzodinma , representing Orlu Senatorial Zone is expected to also grace the event along with other dignitaries. While HRH Eze Dr. C. J. Okwara, Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers is the Royal Father of the Day.
Orlu Branch was created out of and with support of Owerri Branch to Carter for the growing population of engineers in Orlu and it's environ. It was inaugurated by immediate past president Otis Anyaeji in.. with Engr Chidoze Okereke as it's pioneer president. The branch has since garnered speed it is efforts at becoming one of most vibrant Branches in the country.
General Public and Engineers are invited to grace this event. You can reach the Branch ( +2348033546758) to support or attend.
WHO IS HRH EZE ENGR, SIR RICHARD AKANIHU OBIOHA, FNSE
HRH Eze Engr, Sir Richard Akanihu Obioha, FNSE was born in the Royal family of Nze and Lolo Micheal Obioha ( Duruegeruo I) in Umuegere Village Umuezikeodu Okwuabala Autonomous Community Orlu LGA Imo State on 4th Sept, 1927.
He commenced his primary Education at st Joseph Catholic School Umuna Orlu in 1933 and finished in 1940 with distinction. He attended Christ the King College Onitsha between 1941- 1946 where he obtained a Senior Cambridge School certificate in grade 1 with exemption from London Matriculation. Between 1947 and 1951 he schooled at Public works Department Technical School currently named Yaba Tech after which he proceeded to Leicester College of Arts and Science United Kingdom where he obtained a General Certificate of Education between 1953-1959. He attended Batter Sea College of Technology, University of London and obtained BSC Degree in Civil Engineering.
His postgraduate Civil Service experience started in Sokoto in 1947 where he worked in PWD school Training Programme as Engineering Assistant. He also worked in Jos Plateau State as a representative of the Northern Region in a 3 man Team Reconnaissance Survey Bamenda also an Engineering Assistant.
As a young graduate in 1959, he worked on Bridge design Batter Sea College of Technology London and was apprenticed to Transverse Morgan and partner of London and Macdonald and Partner of Glasgow Scotland. His postgraduate work was in Highway and Bridges at university of Colorado USA in 1964
Between 1965-1976 he was involved in the Design and Construction of various project in South Eastern Nigeria among which are: Access Road to independence layout Enugu, Enugu Abakaliki Afikpo Road and Drains at PortHacourt and Aba; Construction by direct labour of Road and Bridge to Erei Farm Settlement and construction of damaged bridges; Design and construction of a temporary wooden Bridges across River Niger; Reconstruction of Nigerian damaged civil war Bridges, roads and culverts and many others.
In 1971, he was elected the Chairman of The Nigerian Society of Engineers Onitsha Branch. After the Creation of Imo State from East central state in 1976, he was transferred to Imo State Ministry of Works Owerri where he later rose to the position of the Chief Engineer in the Ministry, a position that never distracted him from associating with his professional body.
In 1976 he was elected the Treasurer of Owerri Branch. The position he held for over eight Years without blemishes. In 1993 he also was elected the Chairman of Owerri Branch. It was his administration that got the Land allocation for Owerri Engineering Centre through the support of then the former Military Governor of Imo State Navy Captain James N.J Aneke (1993-1996) who was his Classmate at Public works Department (PWD) Lagos (currently YABA Tech).
He is the Principal Partner of RICHBEN NIGERIAN LIMITED that had staff strength of over three hundred workers with thirty five Registered Engineers, who he sponsored to various Engineering Conferences, Seminars and Workshops both local and international.
HRH Eze (Engr.) Richard .A. Obioha is a fourth degree catholic knight of the order of St. Mulumba. He has rendered many free professional services to the church. Some of them are: Arch Bishop Court Onitsha in 1971/1973, Structural design of catholic church at Uga, Structural design and supervision of construction of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu, Structural design and supervision of construction of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Aladimma-Owerri, Structural design and supervision of construction of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri Catholic Chaplaincy and many others.
Eze (Engr.) Richard Akanihu Obioha has received several awards both local and international. He is married to Ugoeze Bernadette Akuagwu Obioha (Nee Olumba). Their union is blessed with 7 children (4 sons and 3 daughters) and 17 grand-children.
Based on these achievements and contributions to The Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the community, Orlu Branch deemed it necessary to honor him with an Annual Lecture Series.
Plan to be there!!!
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| A delegation of NSE Orlu with past President Engr Otis Anyaeji visited the monarch in his palace |
Compiled by Isqil Najim
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