A BURGEONING START: THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS (NSE) EKET BRANCH HELD HER INAUGURAL MEETING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ENGR. (DR) EKERETE USAK, FNSE.
The Jacob’s Hall of the cozy Villa Marina Hotel, Eket was filled with members. It was the inaugural general meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Eket Branch, under the leadership of Engr. (Dr) Ekerete Usak, FNSE. Engr. Usak who emerged the winner during the last Society’s election had since set the ball of leadership in motion with a number of activities within the branch.
In his welcome address, the branch chairman – Engr. (Dr). Ekerete Usak FNSE, appreciated members of the branch for the trust bestowed on him during the elections and promised to work within his capacity to ensure that the confidence of the members on him is justified through tangible deliverables. Dr. Usak reminded the branch that his administration is not given to personal victories but programs that will promote, sustain and add value to the branch.
Speaking during the meeting, Engr.(Dr) Rasheed Babalola, FNSE – a senior fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers commended Engr. Usak’s drive at repositioning the branch and noted that with the speed he and his team are going, the NSE Eket Branch is in for a flight to the zenith within the engineering year. He appraised; in glowing terms, the series of Meet and Greet visits which the chairman and his executives have been engaged with in the past few weeks, the commencement of work at the NSE secretariat building site and commended the success recorded so far.
Some of the highlights from the agenda of the general meeting included the nominations of members to fill vacant positions ably handled by Engr.(Dr) Rasheed Babalola, FNSE; a business presentation session on the need to diversify interests and embrace digital finance by Mr. Simeon Agbonlahor of OmegaPro group and of course the presentation of an award of excellence to one of the senior members – Engr.(Dr) Rasheed Babalolo, FNSE by Engr. Monday Ekwere, MNSE on behalf of the chairman.
In a separate remark, the branch chairman Engr.(Dr) Ekerete Usak FNSE recounted that his administration is committed to delivering on the promises he made during his manifesto presentation before the elections, part of which was to establish a student wing of the NSE at the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) and thereafter integrate them into the branch. The chairman also charged the Young Engineers through the forum (Young Engineers Forum of Nigeria – YEFoN) that a particular month will be assigned for them to display their technical and entrepreneurship skills besides the annual engineering week programs.
Responding on behalf of the students, Ms. Victoria Jeremiah, Vice president, Nigerian Universities Engineering Students’ Association(NUESA) thanked the chairman for the warm reception and added that the gesture is a sign of more good things to come. She solicited support for internship positions for the final year students of the engineering faculty and industrial training (IT) placement in some of the companies available.
The hybrid (virtual & physical) inaugural meeting had well over 47 members in attendance, excluding the students.
Present at the meeting were the Branch Chairman, Engr. (Dr) Ekerete Usak FNSE, FNIMechE, FCP, FIPMA, MPM, CPMP; Engr. (Dr) Rasheed Babalola, FNSE; Engr. Iheanacho Emeto, MNSE; Engr. Linus Ezeghara, MNSE; Engr. Monday Ekwere, MNSE; Engr. (Dr) Jimmy Wilson, MNSE; Engr. Olubayo Olanrewaju, MNSE; Engr.Mrs.Ndidi Kalu MNSE;
Engr. Elijah James, MNSE, MNIEEE;
Engr. Emmanuel Obot, MNSE, MNIPE, MNIEEE, MNISafetyE;
Engr. Emmanuel Sam, MNSE, MSPE;
Mr. Moses Moses and Nigerian Universities Engineering Students’Association (NUESA) AKSU.
Also present at the inaugural meeting were, Engr. Monday Ekwere MNSE; Engr. Ime Eyo MNSE – Secretary, NIMechE Akwa Ibom Chapter; Comrade Sunday John – Secretary, Iron & Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSAN).
While HRH Donaldson Eshilama MNSE, Engr. Godw seein A Umoh, FNSE, FNISafetyE and Engr. Akaniyene Ekong MNSE, FNISafetyE were among those who attended the meeting online (virtual attendance).
This is a welcome development