The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh has advocated for a collaborative effort to address the dire impact of climate change in the Niger Delta region.
Momoh made the call at the 34th investiture ceremony of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), which marked the historic investiture of Engr. Magaret Aina Oguntola, FNSE, as the first female president of the NSE.
The Minister appealed to the NSE leadership to forge a strong alliance with the Niger Delta Ministry to uplift the region from its current state of impoverishment caused by the adverse effects of climate change.
The minister highlighted how climate change has taken a toll on the region, transforming it into a lamentable and impoverished state.
Momoh further called on the NSE to lend its expertise and support to the Niger Delta Development Ministry in the battle against climate change, emphasising the importance of decarbonizing the environment.
Stressing the need for engineering professionals to actively assist the ministry in implementing effective strategies to mitigate the environmental challenges faced by the region, Momoh urged the newly sworn-in president, Engr. Magaret Aina Oguntola, to play a pivotal role in expanding the NSE’s membership.
He challenged the leadership to achieve a membership base of over 100 thousand within the next two years. According to the minister, a larger and more diverse membership would enhance the society’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
In her inaugural address, the NSE President, Magaret Aina Oguntola outlined her visionary plans for her tenure.
With a commitment to propelling the NSE to greater heights,Oguntola shared a roadmap that included initiatives to enhance the professional standing of engineers, foster innovation, and contribute to national development.
The investiture ceremony drew high-profile attendees, including the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau Jibrin, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio. State Governors, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and other prominent Nigerians also graced the occasion, underscoring the significance of the NSE in the national discourse.
