Joshua Elekwachi, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and 24 other distinguished professionals were honoured with the Fellow of the Nigerian Institution Of Surveyors (NIS).
Other surveyors who bagged fellowship award include Surveyor General of the Federation Adeniran Taiwo, Registrar/CEO, Surveyors Council of Nigeria Surveyor Mogammed Mammab Kabir, GMD Aiteo Okoronkwo Ikechukwu Victor Olokeogun Damilola, Nzomiwu Chukwudi Martin’s, Najimu Yakubu Atanda, Obazee Anthony Igunma, Okagbo Sally Onyowo Omoha, Adetoye Olakunbi Omobolanle and Ezeh Francis Chukwuemeka.
The rest are Kallio Elliot Godwin,Oguntinuade Dare Lanre,Bolarinwa Abimbola Adeniyi,Adeogun Oladele Zacheus, Samali Joseph Mshelia, Esan Abiodun Oluropo and Samuel Agwor Ndubuisi among others.
The fellowship award is an annual event of NIS designed to recognize surveyors who have made significant contributions to the practice of surveying and geoinformatics and those who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession worthy of emulation.
The president of the association, Surv. Alabo Charlesye David C in his speech during the investiture said the surveyors have played important roles in national development saying they set the information foundation that promote reliable robust and can be used for socio-economic planning.
Identifying the importance of the surveyor profession to national development he revealed that without proper planning by any government, any attempt towards national development is determinedly planning to fail. He said infrastructure as one major component of development exist in space and surveying is invariably required to establish the positions.
Surveyor Alano who is the association’s 21st president in series remarked that award for fellowship is by merit and a charge to continue to do something exceptional. He called on the new fellows to use the fellowship award to provide mentorship to the young people and be a role model in leadership.
Earlier while delivering his lecture, the guest speaker, Prof. Adeolu Akande said that they need to encourage professionals to stop avoiding opportunity to serve in politics, stressing that the more professionals that are in politics, the better the political leadership of the country will become owing to the fact that technocrats manage resources well.
The Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan accepting the fellowship investiture thanked the association for the award and promised that the national assembly will do its best through legislative assistance in terms of laws to provide support and level playing ground for the surveyors to practice in the country. He charged the association to strengthen its regulations so as to give standardization to its services.
Equally, he appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful as insecurity continues to ravage parts of the country. He hinted that the country is undergoing growth and will overcome its challenges.
The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his own as well appreciated the association and gave insight on how through surveying he has transversed length and breadth of the country. He pointed out that the importance of the profession cannot be overemphasized and assured the association of his government’s continuous collaboration.
In a chat with Nigerian NewsDirect, the Surveyor General of the Federation, Mr Samuel. A Taiwo, who was inducted as a board member expressed his happiness for the investiture and encouraged the young people to bear in mind that they are coming up to solve problems and should prepare adequately ahead of time.
The investiture attracted eminent Nigerians from different fields of endeavors like, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Ph.D, Executive Governor Of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Emir of Nasarawa HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, Former Defence minister, General Mansur Dan-Ali, President Of the professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Surv. Akinloye Oyegbola and many others.