Governance
35th NSE President Urges Stronger Enforcement of Buy-Nigeria-First Policy at Inauguration
Ugbede James Ankpa
Engineer Ali Alimasuya Rabiu has been inaugurated as the 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
The investiture ceremony was held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Abuja, where he formally took the Oath of Office.
In his inaugural address, Engr.
He disclosed that major infrastructure projects valued at trillions of naira are being executed without adequate involvement of Nigerian engineers, contrary to existing laws. He stressed the need for MDAs to engage Nigerian engineering professionals from the conception of projects through to their completion.
Reaffirming his commitment to the vision and mission of the Society, Engr. Rabiu assured members of pragmatic and deliberate steps aimed at repositioning the NSE for greater relevance in national development.
He stated that his administration would prioritise resetting the NSE, strengthening its institutional foundations, and restoring its role as a critical driver of engineering excellence and national progress. According to him, the present moment calls for reflection on the values and leadership that shaped the Society, as well as a renewed commitment to unity, innovation and accountability.
“I approach today’s investiture as the 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with deep honour and a renewed sense of responsibility. Having served as President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), many believed my journey in engineering leadership had reached its natural conclusion. I too felt that way, until I was compelled by a wave of concerned and passionate engineers who could no longer ignore the gradual drift of our great Society from its core ideals,” he said.
Engr. Rabiu explained that the call for institutional renewal, bold reforms and strategic repositioning motivated his return to leadership, stressing that his decision was driven by conviction rather than ambition.
“This return is not driven by ambition, but by conviction. Today, I reaffirm that commitment with clarity, courage and a deep sense of duty,” he added.
The new NSE President acknowledged the reforms initiated by previous administrations, noting that while they laid a necessary foundation, the current realities demand strategic clarity, bold thinking and stronger alignment with national priorities.
He revealed that his administration would be guided by the NSE Strategic Document, a 10-year blueprint recently approved by the Council, which he described as a directional framework that would guide policies, actions and engagements.
According to him, his presidency will focus on five strategic pillars derived from the document: Membership Development, Strategic Partnerships, International Relations, Community Impact, and Institutional Branding.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Senator Pius Anyim Pius, congratulated Engr. Rabiu and urged him to strengthen Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) to address recurring cases of building collapse across the country. He also called for closer collaboration with relevant authorities to curb quackery in the engineering profession.
Similarly, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Engr. Patrick Ndubueze, pledged the Senate’s support for the NSE, assuring of its readiness to work closely with the Society to advance engineering development in Nigeria.
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, FNSE, described Engr. Rabiu’s emergence as President as timely, noting that it presents an opportunity to raise professional standards and strengthen policy influence. He called on stakeholders in government, the private sector, academia and development partners to support the new leadership in leveraging engineering expertise for effective governance, economic diversification, job creation and enhanced national competitiveness.
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