- Says the Mining Sector witnessing better days under Adegbite, Ogar
- As NAEGE President tasks awardees on continuous professional development
The Nigerian Association of Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE) has conferred its highest merit on Engr Simon Obadiah Nkom, Director General, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office.
The NAEGE fellowship, which is the sixth in the series of Professional Fellowships conferred on Engr Nkom comes ten days after the Nigerian Society of Engineers honored Nkom with Fellowship of the highly regarded engineering body in Nigeria.
President of NAEGE, Prof T. K. S. Abam who presided over the Fellowship Conferment ceremony during the 2nd Africa Regional Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology (IAEG) that doubles as the 4th NAEGE Annual International Conference, on Monday, in Abuja commended Nkom for hard work and determination, qualities he said earned him the recognition.
The President challenged engineering geologists in Africa to stay abreast of developments in the sector while also engaging in continuous research and professional development, stating that it will strengthen competence and standardize service delivery.
Fielding questions from our correspondent shortly after the ceremony, Nkom, who rose through the ranks to become Director of Concession at the MCO before his elevation to the position of Director-General pledged continuous readiness to service of the sector.
When asked to evaluate the state of the sector in view of policy measures being embarked upon by the current administration, Nkom explained that policy decisions of the Adegbite administration are backed by patriotism and due consultation. He therefore commended the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite and the Minister of State, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah for what he described as ‘strategic and patriotic efforts to restore the lost glory of country’s mining sector.’
He explained that the administration is systematically addressing myriad of challenges through the enactment of policies that will root professionalism and global best practices, a development he said will do much to realize President Muhammadu Buhari’s set goal of economic diversification via development of mining sector.
He expressed optimism that the leadership acumen of the Minister will lead to the realization implementation of the Roadmap for Growth and Development of the sector.
Nkom, who is president of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) remarked that NAEGE, together with Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) are specialist associations under the NMGS working in harmony for the continuous development of the sector.
The immediate past Director General of the MCO, Engr Mohammed Amate who also spoke to our correspondent on the sideline, during the NSE Fellowship conferment ceremony described Nkom as ‘a gentleman of note, a mining engineering to the core who has contributed immensely to the growth of the mining sector,’ adding that ‘bestowing the Fellowship on Engr Nkom is certainly well deserved.’
Mining Sector expert who was Director, Minerals and Metals Department, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engr Sanusi Jibril hailed the selection process of that brought forward Engr Nkom, saying that ‘it is very credible.’ Jibril said: ‘Those of us who know Nkom are not surprised because we know he is an engineer who knows his onions very well.’
‘He has worked very hard, and before the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers was conferred on him, Engr Nkom had earned the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME), Fellowship of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society and of some other professional bodies which are not necessarily in mining,’ he added.
