Bayelsa Deputy Gov, Others Seek Investment In Engineering Profession

THE Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribioha John Jonah (rtd.), has called for more investments in research and development of the engineering profession to promote engineering practice in Nigeria.

Jonah made the call in Yenagoa yesterday during the installation of the eight Chairman of Yenagoa branch Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Olaowei Indiamaowei and induction of new members.

The Deputy Governor, an engineer by training, said the nation could improve on its local production through better funding of academic research, stating that Nigerian engineers are one of the best in the world. “Our engineers can compete favourably anyway in the world,” he said. “ The enabling environment to practice has not been there for us to function well.

We all have a duty to perform, to help build a nation and our state. Production is part of engineering function. We must think of local production.

That is the only way we can grow our economy. That is the only way we can make mistakes and learn. That is the only way we can standardise the products of this country.”

One of the awardees at the occasion and Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr David Omonibeke, hinted that NPA is coming up with new standard operative procedures to achieve improved marine activities on the waterways.

Omonibeke said the new operative procedures would serve the shipping community to ease the movement of vessels on the nation’s waterways.

Omonibeke, a former Chairman of the NSE in Yenagoa, also encouraged youths in the Niger Delta to acquire skills and study courses related to the maritime business to make them take advantage of the riverine environment they are familiar with.

A former lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ayeabami Spiff, a professor of engineering, expressed concerns over the poor management of refuse in Bayelsa state, and challenged engineers in the state to come up with the best measure for waste management.