The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr Otis Anyaeji has expressed satisfaction with the result oriented research activities and reverse engineering presently going on under the leadership of the current Director General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Maj Gen Bamidele Ogunkale who is also a member of NSE.
He made this expression during a courtesy visit to the Corporation’s headquarters, 45 Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna with the key executive officials of the professional body.
The President who stated that a window to a new horizon to robust relationship between DICON and NSE had been opened with their own member at the helm of affairs in the Corporation, stressed that NSE would explore the current opportunity to create a better society as major stakeholders in the much orchestrated industrialization of the nation.
According to him, NSE will be more poised under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that his pronouncements, position and posture have demonstrated his full support for local production to meet the nation’s industrial need.
“Let us zero in on the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari; the time we have been waiting for is here.
The president has said, all that we need we can produce, what we cannot produce we don’t need them”.
The NSE President further stated that research was germane to the much desired industrial breakthrough of our beloved nation, noting that DICON was taking giant strides in area of research and development and NSE would be interested in that.
On the issue of local content act, the president said a bill had been introduced already stressing that a holistic approach was necessary to ensure that it was not just limited to oil and gas industry alone but other industries. He noted with delight that DICON was already doing well in that area through reverse engineering.
“The current global economic downturn affect many industries in Nigeria, leading to the death of many but DICON has remained afloat which is worthy of commendation and encouragement from all well meaning Nigerians”. On the proposal of speed limit for the commercial vehicles within the country by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the president postulated that, that would be a market of about 40 billion naira: stressing that as an advocate of local content, he would like the Nigerian Engineers to handle the project.
The President also noted with delight that the new logo was quite a thought provoking and quite challenging seeing Aircraft, Tanks and warship on the logo, which according to him depict the direction they were going.
He however advised that DICON should concentrate its effort in the smallest ones that it has comparative advantage to produce. Harping still on the DG’s achievements in DICON, the NSE boss said his award of Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) should be counted done, urging the chapter to facilitate needed prerequisite at the state level.
It would be recalled that DG was also conferred with Chartered Engineer (C Engr) by the Council for the regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) just a day after the visit of NSE to DICON.
“Besides boosting the economy, there will be conservation of foreign reserve”.
The President also commended the DG for local and foreign training programmes given to the engineers in DICON. Earlier, the DG, Gen Ogunkale noted with delight that the success stories emanating from DICON would not have been possible without the immense contributions the NSE.
The DG who said he was humbled by the encomium showered on him on his achievements in DICON within the space of 11 months said such achievements would not have been possible without his total dependence on the president, fellows and members of NSE who he described as giants, stressing that he was proud to be a member of NSE.
His words, “the great successful men of the world have used their imaginations to bring about desired changes: not just a development of the old, but a radical leap forward in areas where they feel they can make the most impact. They think and create mental picture in all details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building to bring about transformations”.
