The City of Makurdi the Benue State Capital was on a standstill yesterday Friday, 26th August 2022 as the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers Benue Chapter carried out a twin event which was the Inauguration of her 6th Chapter Chairman Engr. Mohammed Kabiru Bobby, MNSE, MNIMechE and the 1st Engr. Conrad Aondoaver Wergba Annual Public Memorial Lecture at the MT Square Hotel George Akume Way Makurdi, Benue State.
The Outgoing Chairman of the Chapter Engr. Comfort Akwonya Adadu PhD, MNSE, MNIMechE welcomed all invited Guests, highlighted some of the milestones achieved during her tenure in Office which includes bringing in new members, Organizing Seminars and Workshops amongst many other activities. She promised to work closely with the Incoming Chairman and his members of Exco to ensure they succeed.
Declaring the event Open, the National Chairman of NIMechE who doubled as the Chairman of the Occasion, Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Akingbagbohun, FNSE, FNIMechE represented by The Deputy National Chairman of the Institution, Engr. Alhassan Abdu Mohammed, FNIMechE congratulated the incoming Chairman and his Exco and encouraged him to imbibe policies that will strengthen the chapter and by extension the National body.
He went on to highlight many of the successes recorded by the Institution under the present National leadership and the plans in place such as Membership registration, work on a Website, Opening of a Training Center for training and retraining amongst others, encouraged members to attend the forth coming AGM tagged Ibadan 2022 and said he was expecting Benue Chapter to present not less than 5 papers at the AGM.
This was followed by the Inauguration of the Chapter Chairman and his Exco Members. Other Exco Members inaugurated included Engr. Aer Emmanuel, MNSE, NIMechE as Vice Chairman, Engr. Chia Mne Fidelis, MNSE, NIMechE as General Secretary (who is also the Secretary of the New membership and Admissions Committee), Engr. Terhemeniorpine Sefater, MNSE as Treasurer and Ewache A. Michael as Technical Secretary. The Chairman of the Chapter, Engr. Mohammed Kabiru Bobby, MNSE, MNIMechE on behalf of his members of Exco accepted the call to serve and promise to run an all-inclusive tenure where everyone will be carried along to ensure the legacy of Late Engr. Conrad Wergba lives on.
Delivering the 1st Lecture series of the Annual Memorial lecture in honour of the Pioneer Chairman of the Chapter in Person of Late Engr. Conrad Aondoaver Wergba, MNIMechE on the Topic: “Exploiting Science and Technology for National Growth and Development: Lessons from Exploits by Peer Countries”, The Guest Speaker Engr. Prof D.T Gundu, MNSE, MNIMechE of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University highlighted the exploits of Peer Countries like Japan, India, Malaysia and Brazil and how Nigeria as a country can leverage by adopting such models to move from where she is today as a country to a country of National Growth through Science and Technology. He also highlighted the doggedness of the Honoree and the many sacrifices the Late Engr. Conrad Aondaver Wergba MNIMechE made in giving birth to the Chapter.
Preparatory to presenting awards to the deserving recipients, The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the event, Engr. Kasso Terseer FNIMechE said the awards were initially awarded by the National body but it was customary that it be presented to the Recipients during the Occasion. The Post Humus Award was presented by the Deputy National Chairman of the Institution to the Family of the pioneer Chairman of the Chapter Engr. Conrad Wergba in appreciation to the many years of Meritorious Services, Devotion and commitment to the Mechanical Engineering Community. This was followed by a Corporate Service Award presented to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN in recognition of his valuable support and sponsorship of Professional Mechanical Engineering Activities in Nigeria.
Delivering the vote of thanks, The Chief Host who also doubled as the Patron of the Chapter in the Person of Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Iornumber Kucha, FNSE, FNIMechE thanked the representative of the National Chairman for creating time to grace the occasion. He also promised to be actively involved in activities of the chapter by guiding the officials and giving advice where possible. He also told the incoming Chairman to run an all-inclusive tenure. As a stakeholder, he promised to get in touch with all other critical stakeholders with a view to reviving the Chapter and enjoined on the Chapter Chairman to always take part in the activities of the Institution at the National Level.
Concluding, The Royal Father of the Day HRH The Ter kwande, Engr. Timothy Tavershima Ahile, MNIMechE gave the Chapter Excos his Royal blessings and admonished the Chapter Chairman to build upon the legacies of the Immediate Past Chairman of the Chapter. He pointed out the shortcomings of the past that almost crippled the Chapter and told The Chapter Chairman and his Excos to learn from such lessons so as so do better. He encouraged the Chapter to come up with a year plan of activities immediately and he was expecting a visit from the Chapter on sensitization in his constituency.
The Occasion was also attended by the Chairman of The Nigerian Society of Engineers Makurdi Chapter, Engr. Andrew Fanen Wuese, MNSE, MNIMechE and his members of Exco,The Chairman of NIWE Makurdi Chapter Engr. Terhemba Agber, FNSE, FNIWE and his team, The Chairman of NIEEE Engr. John Oboh MNSE, MNIEEE and his team, Members of NIMechE from other Chapters, Members of NSE from other branches, friends and familes. Many Goodwill messages were read, everyone present refreshed to their satisfaction and all posed for photo sessions.
Engr. Chia Mne Fidelis, MNSE, MNIMechE.
General Secretary (NIMechE Benue Chapter).\\
