Lagos: In a strategic collaboration, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have joined forces to drive innovation and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The partnership aims to harness engineering expertise to boost maritime infrastructure, enhance port efficiency, and unlock the vast potential of ocean-based industries.
NSE President, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, during a courtesy visit to NPA’s Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, in Marina, explained the importance of engineering excellence to the marine and blue economy sector.
She used the occasion to invite the NPA boss and his team to the society’s forthcoming 2025 NSE International Conference in December, tagged “Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy”.
Oguntala said that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected at the event scheduled for December in Ibadan.
She called for partnerships at the conference and urged Dantsoho to serve as a lead speaker, while urging NPA to sponsor the technical sessions to share knowledge on the marine and blue economy.
The President also offered NPA an opportunity to exhibit, while announcing the number of NPA engineers nominated to serve on the conference planning committee.
Oguntala, a fellow of NSE, explained the industrial, government and academic collaborations the society has undertaken and the strategic importance of having NPA as partners.
“We know your efforts in building the aquatic economy of Nigeria.
“And we do know that we cannot have that kind of conference without having you play a very vital and critical role.
“We are not seeking sponsorship. We are seeking your partnership because we expect to co-host a conference with that theme.
“The marine and blue economy is the way to go now. It’s the future. And it’s a sector that is not open yet to many people who do not understand it,” she said.
She explained the spread of various engineering arms across 93 branches in sectors across the nation and in the diaspora, and the impact they were making on national development.
The President also addressed the issue of entry-level for graduate engineers raised by professional engineers working in NPA.
She explained the legal and administrative steps taken by the society to upgrade the minimum entry level for engineers in public service and in NPA to level 10.
Oguntala, who was the first female President of the 67-year-old society, explained her five-pillar agenda, including capacity-building and collaboration with institutions to drive Nigeria’s growth.
NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said 70 to 80 per cent of personnel and operations of the ports revolve around engineering and engineers.
Dantsoho assured collaboration with the NSE to move Nigeria forward, citing countries that made remarkable progress through partnerships with their engineers.
The NPA boss said the collaboration will benefit the NPA, listing various engineering professionals engaged in the authority’s services.
