OUR PRESIDENT  MUST HEAR THIS!!!

•      The paved and motorable roads under states and federal government control, according to National Planning Commission, NPC, are less than 40% of the total network. Also, over 90% of the local government roads are unpaved and over 50% unmotorable.

•      With generated power averaging 5000MW, Nigeria’s population is approaching 200 million, same population with Brazil, a country which currently generates over 100,200MW. According to World Bank, Nigeria ranked 2nd largest electricity access deficit in world as 80 million homes live without power.

Rural to urban migration in search of greener pastures still persist in Nigeria in the 21st century despite government’s claim of several rural development programs. This trend portend negative signal for the already saturated urban environment, particularly in areas of housing, sanitation, crimes and food security……NSE,KADA, (ABUJA) 2018

By Ayo Ademokoya

Leaving my hotel room so early for the opening ceremony of the 51^st National  Engineering conference  and the annual General Meeting of the great and honourable Nigerian Society of Engineer which was supposed to be held in Kaduna by the Kaduna branch of the NSE but postponed and hosted in Abuja for obvious reasons was a bit cumbersome  due to fatigue from traveling for almost 10 hours by road all the way for my base to the sit of power in Nigeria, Abuja

But that would not stop me from getting to the venue of the opening ceremony of the epic event which coincides with the 60^th anniversary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) early enough where thousands of Engineer all over the country already converged at Chida event centre to celebrate themselves, yet informed others as well as get educated through various papers to be delivered by distinguished personalities who had made indelible marks in their chosen profession and contributed to the development and the growth of our dear Nation, Nigeria, Africa and the entire wide world as a whole.

One of such personality who gave a heart-warming and very expository key note address at the event was an erudite professor of Engineering in the country; Professor Oluwatoyin Ashiru a distinguished Materials and Metallurgical Engineer is a graduate of the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK where he obtained B.Sc in Materials Science and Engineering. He concluded his Ph.D at the University of Birmingham, UK in Industrial Metallurgy in 1983.

I was shocked when his Curriculum Vitae was reeled out to thousands of the the crème de la cream who had converged from all works of life to listen to the professor speak on the topic ‘Sustainable Engineering  Infrastructure for Accelerated Rural Development’

Earlier, the President of the NSE Engineer  Adekunle Mokuolu,FNSE I  his welcome address told the mammoth crowd present at the auditorium that for many years discourses at various conferences of the NSE have been weaved around topics aimed at making contributions towards Nigeria technological, political and socio –economic advancement .

‘There is no doubt that we have made enough contributions in that direction over the years using engineering knowledge to evolve pragmatic ideas and solutions to tackle the incidences of poverty and infrastructure deficiency, all of which have been documented in communiques and transmitted to the relevant institutions  of government for consideration, and hopefully, implementation’ he added

‘Again, this year, the council approved the theme of the conference as Sustainable Engineering Infrastructure for Accelerated Rural Development. Admittedly, this has been the central focus of dialogue at different workshops and seminars since my assumption of office and I believe that there is more to be discoursed as far as the topic is concerned’.

Indeed there was more to be discussed as Professor Ashiru, who has utilized his diverse experiences in the academia and industry to provide technical advisory services for the enhancement of productivity in major oil and gas industries worldwide. He has served as consultant to NNPC, SHELL, CHEVRON, EXXONMOBIL, ADDAX, SAUDI ARAMCO, QATAR OIL, etc. He has also served worldwide on various governmental multi-disciplinary task forces and technical committees for UNIDO, UNESCO, and the World Bank did justice to the topic as well as profer lasting solution to these problems confronting our nation.

I was amazed to further realised before he delivered his lecture that Toyin Ashiru is the inventor of the first known instrument for in site detection of steel cracking in sour petroleum production operations. This sophisticated device is used worldwide in oil industries. He holds patents in the USA, UK, Brazil.  He has carried out many projects to solve corrosion and materials degradation problems in petrochemical, chemical processing, fertilizer, and steel manufacturing industries.

 What gladdens my heart  was to realise that Professor Ashiru is not just an academician but someone with great passion for community service especially educational counselling for Nigerian youths an attribute I personally adored and cherished which we promotes through our medium as we all thrives to see a Nigerian Society that would be at par with other developed countries in the world especially in Europe and America. Now wonder he has received many merit awards and citations worldwide in recognition of his work, including an acknowledgment in the USA as a “Professional with Extraordinary Ability” Professor Ashiru has.

 
It also gladdens my heart to know that in the private sector and the business world, Prof has proven his worth as I'm made to realise that Prof Ashiru is a Non-Executive Director of FCMB Group Plc, CSL Securities and is currently the Group Managing Director/CEO of Tricontinental Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in Oil & Gas services and industrial technologies

Toyin Ashiru is a COREN registered engineer and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and that is why www.harohkah.bolgspot.com.ng went extra mile to bring to you the unedited version of the paper delivered by this foremost Professor of Engineering in Nigeria and Africa.

Enjoy it

SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR ACCELERATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

by

Prof. Toyin Ashiru, FNSE. FAEng

MD/CEO, Tricontinental Group

51st Annual Conference of the

Nigerian Society of Engineers in Abuja, Nigeria, on

27 November 2018

·         The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, FNSE; Your Excellencies

·         The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Members of the Executive of NSE; Members of the NSE; Friends of the NSE

·         Distinguished Guests; Gentlemen of the Press; Ladies and Gentlemen

I greatly thank the President of the Nigeria Society of Engineer for giving me the honour to be the keynote speaker at this year’s conference which coincides with the 60^th anniversary of our great society.

it is also most elating to me that the theme of conference is a highly topical issue - SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ACCELERATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

For nations to grow their economy, they must develop key infrastructure; when the economy grows and there are more productive activities, they results in increased demand for infrastructural services and then more infrastructure has to be built. This is a continuous cycle of infrastructure development, economic growth, further infrastructure development and further economic growth.

Role of Infrastructure

•      Infrastructure remains the bedrock on which economy flourishes. These infrastructure are needed in every sector. In power, telecoms, transportation, healthcare, business ventures etc. Provision of infrastructure is widely regarded as promoting economic growth. Moreover, infrastructure has a critical and often irreversible role in locking in patterns of development. It needs to be emphasized that good quality infrastructure is important not only for faster economic growth but also to ensure inclusive growth

•       The expansion in infrastructure facilities such as irrigation, rural electrification, roads and road transport will promote growth and setting up of industries, which propel development and improve quality of lives in rural areas

•      The availability of good quality infrastructure raises productivity levels in the economy and brings down costs of the enterprises. 

•      With our wealth of natural resources, we do not only have what it takes to build for the present, but to also build for future generations to come. the provision of infrastructure varies across different levels of development and growth performance.. 

Rural vs Urban Nigeria

•      Over two thirds of Nigeria's population resides in rural areas. Increasingly, poverty in the country is wearing a rural face. From 28.3% in 1980, poverty among the rural population grew to 51.4% in 1985, has since risen to 69.8% in 1996.  In 2018, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world.

•      Access to infrastructure, safe water supply, sanitation, health, modern energy, telecommunications and roads remain important in reducing vulnerability and increasing prosperity.

•      It is also important to state that infrastructures needed in rural areas usually vary from those needed in urban areas in view of the developmental levels and evolving needs of each areas. While infrastructural ideas may be towards provision of railway from Lagos to Abuja, attention may be on provision of power supply in less developed areas.

•      In urban environments, sustainable infrastructures promote financial growth and stability, and for the rising low-income population, provide otherwise unavailable opportunities to improve living conditions.

•      58 years since independence, absence of proper roads, non-availability of electricity, poor communication and connectivity, lack of education facility and medical facilities, are some of the major challenges dragging Nigeria behind

•      The paved and motorable roads under states and federal government control, according to National Planning Commission, NPC, are less than 40% of the total network. Also, over 90% of the local government roads are unpaved and over 50% unmotorable.

•      With generated power averaging 5000MW, Nigeria’s population is approaching 200 million, same population with Brazil, a country which currently generates over 100,200MW. According to World Bank, Nigeria ranked 2nd largest electricity access deficit in world as 80 million homes live without power.

•      Rural to urban migration in search of greener pastures still persist in Nigeria in the 21st century despite government’s claim of several rural development programs. This trend portend negative signal for the already saturated urban environment, particularly in areas of housing, sanitation, crimes and food security. There cannot be a better pointer for the need to provide sustainable engineering infrastructures in the Rural areas to address the growing pace of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, disease outbreaks, poor developmental pace, and avoidable deaths. 

•      The overdependence on nature by rural dweller to make a living exerts greater pressure and damages on the ecological system such as deforestation, environmental degradation and pollution. Development of rural areas is measured by the provision of infrastructures and economic opportunities made available to the people.

•      In providing the engineering infrastructures, the concept of sustainability must be etched in the minds of those saddled with the responsibility, as the solution must be considered beyond the present day needs and people.

Major Adverse Issues:

•      Corruption and bad politics in terms of location, resource allocation, membership of policy boards, awards of contracts etc.

•      Organizational inadequacies in terms of administrative capacity (staffing, planning, monitoring, evaluation, etc.)

•      Improper mobilization of people (host communities) leading to a high level of non-compliant behavior.

•      Problems associated with setting over-ambitious and unrealistic target usually, not matched with sufficient resources.

•      Wasteful duplication of scarce energies and resources.

•      Lack of continuity with change of administration

Sustainable Strategies in Engineering Infrastructure

•      The Concept of Sustainability has been defined from different views since its prominent evolution in recent times. However, the most popular definition of sustainability is that from the Brundtland Report of 1987, which stated: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In essence, the Concept of Sustainability considers the immediate realities and those to come in the future in addressing needs and answering questions. ‘Sustainable’ from the concept of ‘Sustainability’ is a growing discourse world over which emphasises among other things, planning for the future.

Way Forward

•      Sustainability in Engineering Infrastructure

•      Diversify rural economy, increase rural employment and reduce migration;

•      Stimulate job creation and small business development;

•      Develop partnerships between public and private sectors and local communities;

•      Harmonize public and business interests, optimize industrial and social infrastructures in the countryside;

•      Introduce efficient rural development management based on EU standards to minimize the environmental impact caused by technogenic factors.

•      Gains of Accelerated Rural Development

•      End to urbanisation crisis

•      Imbalances in the provision of rural infrastructure when compared with that of the cities have negatively impacted cities’ sustainability

•      The provision of adequate infrastructures in the rural communities will turn out to be an alternative solution to the sustainability of the cities by reducing its rate of urbanization and the decay of its infrastructure.

•      Economic development.

•      The state of rural development growth in Nigeria has overtime impacted profoundly on all sectors of the national economy.

•      Revitalising infrastructure at the rural level is key to sustainable economic development because it gives room for wealth and employment creation.

•      Poverty reduction

•      The creation of sustainable infrastructure in rural areas will enable dwellers to engage in viable economic activities that can improve their well-being and conditions of living.

•      Most rural dwellers make up the informal sector of the economy and this informal sector contributes over 60% of Nigeria’s GDP

•      Employment Opportunities

Unemployment opportunities are one of the major reasons why individuals move from rural areas to urban areas. However with proper infrastructure in place, more industries will set up in rural communities due to closeness to natural resources and this will in turn create rooms for other smaller industries to flourish and create jobs.

• Promote Integrated Planning
• Promote coherent and integrated planning to unlock economic potential by ensuring alignment of infrastructure planning and investments to key developmental nodes in line with the Spatial Development Frameworks of the municipality.
• The concept of growth points or nodal development is based on spatial targeting, where resources are co-ordinated and directed to selected areas in response to identified development opportunities.
• Public housing and infrastructure development programmes is being prioritised in these places to unlock the development potential and opportunities for job-creation that they hold.

What is expected is that our engineers take up the challenge as individuals, groups or a body to device innovative and cost-effective solutions to visible infrastructural gap and develop robust capacities with local manpower and then compete with foreign companies for our construction projects. The truth is no one can build Nigeria like Nigerians, because we have a stake.

The many challenges in Nigeria are an opportunity for our engineers to invent breakthrough technologies or form clusters that can become a seedbed for innovations and employments. These clusters might end up being the great corporations of tomorrow.

We have talked about what we know, but there are still a lot of things we don’t. Like what the world will look like in 2050. What global warming and its effects would have done to our home. What the fate of Nigeria will be when oil becomes dozen-a-dime considering how the world is moving towards electric vehicles? Nations of the world have set out dates for the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles: Netherlands and Norway by 2025, India and Germany by 2030, United Kingdom and France by 2040. In fact, Volvo will stop producing petrol and diesel cars by 2019.

Obviously, there are quite a lot of challenges for humanity to surmount, while Nigeria is teething on basic infrastructure. Certainly though, we will all be part of the future to some point. But in the end, would the world become better because of you?

Let’s work with what we have, based on what we know to address our current challenges and impact the world so much that what we don’t know now will not become what we cannot fix tomorrow.