Experts advocate sustainable skills through mentorship for youths

Former Executive Vice President (Upstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Adokiye Tombomieye, yesterday, said that building a sustainable future for youths, particularly young Nigerian engineers, would require empowerment through mentorship to make them relevant and competitive in an ever-changing world.

He led the call during a forum entitled: “Building a sustainable future through strategic mentorship,” organised by the Young Engineers Forum of Nigeria (YEFoN), adding that as the nation looks ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others, as Nigerian young engineers need a mentor to grow.

He said the role of such mentors must include knowledge sharing, personal and professional development, role modelling, guidance and support, as well as networking and support for budding professionals.

Tombomieye, who is a chemical engineer, said that despite local challenges in Nigeria, such as infrastructure and resource constraints, brain drain, environmental and social issues, including climate change and poverty affecting both senior and young professionals, inculcating global innovations in engineering mentorship is necessary.

Also, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, represented by the Vice President, Membership Services, Mrs Rose Madaki, said mentorship is vital to ensure the growth and development of young engineers as critical assets in shaping the future of the country.

She said that the NSE had prioritised the development of young engineers.

The National Coordinator, YEFoN, Ikakke Afangideh, stressed that the role of mentorship for professionals could not be over-emphasised for any practitioner who wants to attain a better future, adding that strategic mentorship empowers engineers to develop skills and expertise, foster a sense of community, among others, as they tackle depressing challenges of modern times.