ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has assured the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) of government’s continued support for the professional growth of its members in the state.
He gave the assurance in his office at Government House, Yenagoa, when the Yenagoa branch of the NSE paid him a courtesy visit, a statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi, said on Wednesday.
On NSE’s request for support to its proposed bill on Bayelsa Physical Development, Ewhrudjakpo urged the body to fashion out other sources of funding rather than solely relying on government capital projects.
He said the government was committed to the in-service training of engineers in the state, stressing that effective training and retraining would help to enhance quality of jobs done, proper planning and implementation of projects as well as forestalling project failure in the state.
He emphasized the need for discipline and advised the body of engineers to think out ways of involving multinational companies and other corporate organizations in its funding arrangement.
Ewhrudjakpo also charged members of the Society to occasionally embark on excursion visits to schools including the faculty of engineering at the Niger Delta University (NDU) to give ethical orientation and inspire the future engineers of the state.
The deputy governor said: “To the issues you have raised, I want to assure you that we are still sponsoring engineers in the state.
Only this week, I approved training for engineers who are going to attend the NSE Conference holding in August this year. As the Ministry of Works brings their applications, we will approve them.
“We will continue to support the Nigerian Society of Engineers as far as our capacity to support is concerned. We will ensure that our engineers go for training and re-training. This is key because the only way you can contribute to societal development is to learn continually.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, NSE, Yenagoa Branch, Gordon Monday Bubou, said the visit was to solicit the state government’s support to enable their members to attend the forthcoming NSE conference in August.
Bubou equally appealed that the NSE needed the administration’s assistance for the Bayelsa State Physical Development Bill which seeks funding for engineers, surveyors and builders through public capital projects in the state.
He appreciated Ewhrudjakpo’s contributions towards the building of critical infrastructure in the state in the last administration and the growth of the profession as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.