By Abubakar Baba Ahmad
The Nigerian Society of Engineering, NSE has inductee Eight hundred Engineering Graduands of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU Bauchi as graduate members of the society.
The Inductees were drawn from the various engineering specialisations to include Agricultural and Bio-Resource, Automobile, Chemical, Civil, Computer and Communications, Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical/Production, Petroleum as well as Mechatronics and Systems Engineering.
The induction ceremony, being the fourth in series was organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology of the University in collaboration with the NSE with the theme “From Induction to Impact: Professional Excellence, Ethical Leadership and Engineering Innovation for National Development.”
In a keynote address, the Dean Students Affairs ATBU, Engineer Professor Sa’id Umar warned the inductees against venturing into aspects of engineering that they have no certification or requisite skills to avoid sanctions and incarceration.
“You cannot be Jack of All trades, you cannot be everywhere. Even when many of you come up for your Masters degree, you find out that in your area of specialisation you cannot be general civil engineer or electrical engineer – it is not possible. So if you parade yourself as a mechanical engineer and go and do mechanical engineering design and there’s problem, you’ll go to jail,” S.Y Umar warned.
Professor Sa’id Umar who said every engineer embodies the qualities of an innovator, designer, prudent manager, trust, discipline, and versatility, advised them to ensure continuous professional development to learn new skills and ideas.
He urged them to avoid corrupt tendencies, substandard works through structural inefficiency, over reliance on artificial intelligence AI, be entrepreneural and ensure sustainability in practice to survive in the profession.
“Ask questions, learn new softwares, learn new technologies, develop effective communication managerial skills and learn how to work with people. Don’t rely on AI for your engineering judgements, you must confirm,” He advised.
The Vice Chancellor of ATBU, Professor Ibrahim Garba represented by the Dean Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology Professor Ya’u Haruna urged the inductees to drop the notion of securing employment and focus on building a career by being entrepreneural, disciplined and creative.
” Don’t put your eyes on employment, the training you obtained has already positioned you as an employer except if you don’t want to utilise what you’ve learnt. We’ve trained you and we’re sure by the time you enter the society or labour market, you’ll be useful to everyone,” the VC stated.
Administering the Oath, the Bauchi State Chairman NSE Engineer Shehu Wakili appealed to the inductees to stick to professional ethics, promising to guide and include them in its activities, particularly when jobs and other opportunities are available.
“Engineering is a profession that directly affects human lives, public safety and national development, making integrity and competence indispensable qualities for every practitioner,* the NSE Chairman noted.
On his part, the Chairman of the Occasion and Deputy Dean Postgraduate School Professor Sulaiman Dodo reminded the graduands about the challenges ahead of them especially as it relates to the ethical use of AI, emerging competitions and problem of substandard works.
In their separate remarks on behalf of Deans of Faculties and Parents Professor Shuaibu Babawuro snd Professor Sulaiman Umar appreciated the university for the ensuring standard and imparting positive knowledge on the inductees.
The Representative of the Inductees and Chairman Organising Committee Sadiq Musa pledged resolve to uphold the ethics and sanctity of the profession in all personal and official engagements.
The event witnessed large turnout of parents, university management and staff, as well as well wishers and the presentation of Poems by two of the Inductees Miss Nafisa of Petroleum engineering and Farouk Wakil.