A’Ibom Gov. Charges Engineers to Intervene in Power Situation

Nigerian Engineers have been urged to revamp the nation’s electricity infrastructure and make the service affordable and available for the consuming public.

Gov. Udom Emmanuel made the call while declaring open the African Engineering Conference on Energy organized by the Nigerian Society of Engineers at The Tropicana Conference Centre, Uyo, recently.

According to him, “electricity is the spark that ignites ingenuity in small business, a key tool that drives down the cost of production and whose steady availability will engender a domino effect on the society and the net result cannot be quantified.

“One of the factors that have negated our march to sustainable development has been the epileptic supply of electricity and I am glad that this conference has singled out this important issue as its main area of concentration.”

He said the conference was the largest assembly of engineers under one roof in recent times, adding that the theme, “Adequate, Reliable and Sustainable Energy in Africa” was apt in view of the important role of energy in industrialization and sustainable development.

Gov. Emmanuel noted that several strategies have been adopted to resolve the energy crisis in the country for the promotion and urged the engineers to evolve action plans with relevant professionals to provide the technical knowledge to bring about sustainable development.

“We must do all we can to conquer our parlous state of electricity supply. Nigeria’s growth and development would have exploded and our economy would have been roaring if we had found solutions to this huge national problem.

“It is sometimes depressing to see countries that are not half as endowed as we are, overcoming in significant measures their energy challenges. I believe this conference will make solid recommendations and come up with a blueprint that may help us light our nation, expand our growth and consequently improve the quality of lives of our people,” the governor stated.

Earlier, the President, Federation Of African Engineering Organisation, Engr. Mustafa Shehu, said that the objective of the Federation is to establish appropriate standard of engineering education that would be acceptable within and outside Africa, build engineering resource capacity in every country, support the work of each member of the organisation in its own territory among others.

He spoke of the urgent need to propel Nigeria’s economy in the direction of raising the standard of living of the citizens, stressing that manufacturing is a critical tool at this moment of global financial meltdown and pointed out that the provision of adequate energy is the panacea to achieving the set goals.

While lauding the symbiotic alliance between Nigeria, China and other Asian nations Engr. Shehu expressed optimism that with the calibre of resource persons at the conference, solutions to energy crisis would be proffered.

He thanked the state government for the hospitality accorded them and for granting the body an opportunity to host the conference in the state.

At the event, fellowship awards were conferred on some distinguished members of the engineering profession.