Abuja: The Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), Abuja Chapter, on Tuesday held its 2025 Public Lecture, Induction and Annual General Meeting, emphasizing the need for stronger professional commitment to sustainable environmental solutions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Chapter Chairman, Uche Patrick-Obikile, in her welcome address, stated that the annual event provided a platform to share knowledge, strengthen capacity, and review progress within the institution. She highlighted the crucial role environmental engineers play in addressing challenges related to waste management, renewable energy, water resources, climate resilience, and environmental policy. Patrick-Obikile encouraged the newly inducted members to uphold professional ethics, engage in continuous learning, and actively contribute to the institution’s development, viewing their membership as a call to responsibility.
Patrick-Obikile further announced plans for the Abuja chapter to enhance collaboration with government, academia, and industry by 2026. This would involve promoting research and advocacy on sustainable environmental practices and intensifying the mentoring of young engineers. She expressed gratitude to members, invited guests, and partners for their support, hoping that the engagements would inspire greater contributions to national development.
In his keynote address, the National Chairman of NIEE, Dr. Nureni Ogunyemi, praised the chapter for its coordination and leadership. He noted that the event marked his last official engagement with the Abuja Chapter before transitioning to a new national chairman. Ogunyemi emphasized the timeliness of the lecture’s theme, ‘Innovative Environmental Engineering Solutions for a Resilient Economy,’ pointing out Nigeria’s challenges with waste mismanagement, pollution, flooding, and climate change. He stressed that engineers must drive innovation, adopt modern technologies, and champion sustainable systems to build a resilient economy.
Ogunyemi encouraged participants to actively engage with the keynote presentation, which aimed to highlight practical pathways for deploying engineering solutions to support environmental protection and economic growth. Congratulating the inductees, he underscored the profession’s values of excellence, integrity, and service, describing the awardees’ recognition as a testament to their commitment. He announced that the NIEE National Annual General Meeting would be held from Nov. 28 to Nov. 29 at the University of Ibadan, focusing on ‘Blue Economy, Green Practices – Engineering for Environmental Integrity,’ and urged members to contribute to discussions shaping the institution’s future direction.
Guest speaker Mrs. Valerie Agberagba, General Manager, Generations Project at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), called for innovative environmental engineering solutions to bolster Nigeria’s resilience. She highlighted the need to mitigate climate impacts, reduce gas emissions, and promote clean energy and water security through nature-based interventions. Agberagba advocated for a shift to circular-economy waste management, noting the prevalence of pollution and open defecation. She emphasized collective action, including waste-to-energy initiatives, and called for enhanced engineering capacity in the power sector. Additionally, she urged NIEE to prioritize member development and deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to support infrastructure growth across the sector.