Fawaz Adebisi
The Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, on Wednesday blamed lawmakers and politicians for the persistent marginalisation of engineers in policy formulation and project execution, warning that the trend was fuelling substandard infrastructure across the country.
Akinsanya, who spoke at a public lecture organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers,
NSE, Abeokuta Branch, urged engineers to actively join politics to influence decisions, protect professional standards and end what he described as the routine overriding of technical expertise by non-professionals.
“You all know what is right. Engineers know what is right. But sometimes, the person controlling the finance is not an engineer, and when you tell them the specifications, they still insist on what they want. That is where the problem lies,” he said.
The lecture, held at the Bolude Oyebolu Engineering Centre, Abeokuta, was in honour of the late Engr. Venerable Michael Bamgboye Joda, a former Ogun State Commissioner for Education, and was themed ‘Engineering Standards under Nigerian Energy and Electricity Laws: Imperatives for Engineering Professionals.’
Akinsanya, drawing from his professional experience, said countries that allow engineers to lead infrastructure decisions make faster and more sustainable progress.
“If we are very attentive to engineers, we will make a lot of progress. When I was at the University of Lagos, it was one of the few places I saw good pavements because engineers were in charge,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s preference for political considerations over technical competence had worsened road failures and building collapses.
He urged engineers to emulate the late Joda by venturing into governance in large numbers.
“It is only when we are many that we can change policies. It is only when we are many that we can stand and say, ‘This is the professional analysis and we will not do otherwise.’ If you are one person among eighty, your voice may be ignored,” he said.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, had called on engineers to overcome internal divisions and unite under the NSE to reclaim their statutory roles in the energy and electricity sectors.
Oke, an energy law expert, criticised the fragmentation of engineering bodies into multiple associations, saying it weakened the profession’s influence compared to the legal profession.
“Unlike lawyers who speak with one voice under the Nigerian Bar Association, engineers are divided into civil, electrical and other associations. If your house is divided against itself, it cannot stand,” he said.
He also lamented that engineers were often subordinated to lawyers and administrators in regulatory institutions despite the technical nature of the sectors they supervised.
“Energy and electricity industries are primarily engineering-driven sectors. Engineers must strategically position themselves in governance structures and speak with one unified, thunderous voice,” Oke said.
The NSE Abeokuta Branch Chairman, Engr. Olumuyiwa Ayodeji, said the lecture, which formed part of the 2026 Engineering Week, was designed to honour Joda’s legacy while provoking national discourse on professionalism and public policy.
“Engineer Joda was a bridge between professionalism and public service, a model of integrity, discipline and commitment to nation-building. Engineering is not just about structures and systems; it is about shaping society and improving lives,” Ayodeji said.
He also highlighted the branch’s contribution to the Ogun State Electricity Framework, noting that its input supported the passage of the Energy Bill, signed into law by Governor Dapo Abiodun, to improve electricity generation and regulation in the state.
Representing the NSE President, Engr. Mohammed Shola Abbas, FNSE, said the profession must move beyond technical competence into leadership and policy-making.
“The theme challenges engineers to reflect on their evolving roles, not only in technical spaces but also in governance and national development,” Abbas said.
In a moving tribute, Dr. Morayo Jimoh, daughter of the late Engr. Joda, described her father as a devoted family man and education enthusiast whose life was dedicated to service.
“He was soft-spoken, very passionate about education and wanted everybody to succeed. Virtually everyone was his child,” she said, thanking the NSE for honouring his legacy.
The event drew engineers, policymakers and dignitaries, including the NSE President, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, Obafemi Owode Local Government Chairman, Lanre Ogunsola, and Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu.
Participants agreed that without stronger political engagement and professional unity, engineers would continue to be sidelined in decisions shaping Nigeria’s infrastructure and energy future.
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