STAKEHOLDERS in the engineering profession have charged the new leadership of the Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) to uphold professional standards without compromise and invest deliberately in mentoring and succession planning to ensure global competitiveness.
The call was made at the investiture of Kunle Adebajo as the 21st President of ACEN, where industry leaders emphasised integrity, innovation, and capacity development as pillars for the association’s next phase.

Leading the charge, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, urged the new leadership to prioritise continuous professional development and ensure that Nigerian consulting engineers remain globally competitive.
According to her, the consulting engineering profession occupies a critical intersection in Nigeria’s development trajectory. “It is not merely about drawings and designs. It is about shaping the physical backbone of our economy,” she said.
“Consulting engineers enhance project governance, cost discipline, safety compliance, and long-term asset performance. The advice you give determines whether infrastructure stands the test of time or becomes a burden on future generations.”

Salako-Oyedele stressed that at a time when Nigeria must build smarter, sustainably, and with fiscal responsibility, leadership within the profession is not ceremonial but consequential. She urged ACEN to insist on competence over convenience, due process over expediency, and life-cycle value over short-term savings.
She expressed confidence that Adebajo would build on the foundation laid by his predecessor by reinforcing integrity, professionalism, and accountability across the consulting engineering space.
She also called on the new leadership to inspire younger engineers, not only through technical competence but also through moral clarity and institutional responsibility.

In his keynote address, the guest speaker, Bamboo Adebowale, underscored the importance of integrity, innovation, and responsiveness to emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
He emphasised the need for the responsible deployment of technology to reduce risk, improve engineering maturity, and enhance efficiency in project delivery.
According to him, embracing digital transformation must go together with strong ethical standards to safeguard public trust.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Special Adviser on Infrastructure to the Governor of Lagos State, Olufemi Olubunmi Daramola, who represented the Deputy Governor of the state, commended Adebajo’s professional accomplishments and called for stronger collaboration with ACEN in driving infrastructure development in Lagos.
The immediate past President of ACEN, Kam-Selem Bukar, appealed to members and stakeholders to support the new leadership in advancing the association’s mandate and consolidating its gains.
In his inaugural address, Adebajo acknowledged the challenges confronting both the profession and the country’s infrastructure sector.

He called for collective action and renewed commitment to engineering excellence, stressing that collaboration would be crucial in navigating the complexities of modern engineering practice.
Bukar emphasised the need to pursue long-term solutions that benefit future generations and highlighted the role of local expertise in driving economic self-reliance and sustainable growth.
As ACEN charts a new course, Adebajo reaffirmed the association’s commitment to ethical standards, continuous professional development, and knowledge sharing. He identified innovation, digital transformation, and inclusivity as central to shaping the future of the profession.

He also placed strong emphasis on youth engagement and capacity building, noting the urgency of closing the skills gap, particularly in emerging fields such as renewable energy and cybersecurity.
“No nation can rise above the quality of its engineers,” he said. “We must work tirelessly to close the skills gap and align engineering education with industry needs.”
Adebajo unveiled a vision of building a stronger and more impactful profession by elevating the role of consulting engineers in national development.

He said the association would seek to position consulting engineers not merely as technical service providers but as trusted advisers, policy influencers, and champions of sustainable progress.
Describing engineers as custodians of Nigeria’s future, he acknowledged that the challenges ahead are complex and urgent but expressed optimism that the profession possesses the knowledge, talent, and resilience to transform the nation’s infrastructure landscape.
“The journey ahead will not be easy, but it is one we must undertake together. The development of Nigeria is in our hands. Let us build it, boldly, wisely, and together,” he added.