NSE Fellowship: JBN, FCDA professionals commend NSE for honouring Kogi Commissioner

. . . Engr Sadiq demonstrated rare abilities in Civil Engineering, says FCDA

. . . 17 yrs ago, he sold own property for Kogi cause, says DG, Information Services

. . . We are already transforming Kogi infrastructure – Engr Sadiq

 

Commendations have continued to trail the selection processes of the recipients of the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, conferred on fourteen engineers recently in Abuja.

At the ceremony, the president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Otis Anyaeji said the conferees are engineers who have distinguished themselves in the field of engineering adding that by their ethical practice, the profession has earned honour and respect.

 

It was smiles all the way as Engr Abdulmumin Sadiq was bestowed with the Fellowship of the NSE

At the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, engineering professionals have independently described the selection process as credible and worthy of emulation by other professional bodies, while they particularly commended the august body for conferring the Fellowship of the Society on Engr Abdulmumin Alabi Sadiq, who until his appointment as Kogi State Commissioner for Works, Housing, Land and Urban Development, was ‘a very resourceful engineer who rose to the directorate cadre at the FCDA.’

To be frank, this award has long been deserved and ought to have been bestowed on Sadiq long before now, but we are happy it has finally come,’ said Engr Jatau who worked closely with Engr Sadiq for more than twenty-five years,’ adding that Sadiq qualifies for the award not particularly because he has worked for a long time, ‘but because of the passion for excellence with which he executes professional tasks.’

According to documented accounts made available to our correspondent by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, “the Development of the Federal Capital Development Authority is not complete without the mention of Engr Sadiq who has served in various capacities ranging from Senior Residence Engineer in charge of supervision and construction of secondary sewer main line in the FCT.

He was also principal Resident engineer in charge of construction Ministerial Standard Houses for Justices of the Supreme Court in central Area, Abuja.

The NSE further said: “Sadiq also held the position of Assistant Chief Resident Engineer in charge of Jabi District Infrastructure and Abuja Central Area Infrastructures Project where he satisfactorily supervised, monitored and evaluated works on the development and provision of engineering infrastructure for Abuja Central Area.

From Left: President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Otis Anyaeji, Recipient of the Fellowship award of the NSE, Engr Abdulmumin Sadiq who is also Kogi State Commissioner for Lands, Works and Housing, and his wife, Hajiya Abdulmumin Sadiq when the NSE confered Fellowship of the Society on Sadiq, recently in Abuja.

At a reception organised by well-wishers in honor of Engr Sadiq in Abuja, Senior Engineer, Julius Barger Nigeria, Engr Ralph Yudas who worked with Engr Sadiq in the execution of strategic projects including the construction of the FCT City Gate said: “We met for the first time fifteen years ago when Engr Sadiq was CIE for Jabi Infrastructure at the FCDA while I was Project Manager,” adding that they worked harmoniously together for over ten years, constructing quite a number of projects.

According to the expatriate, “I confirm that for over ten years that we worked together, I confirm that, and I am know him enough to confirm that he very well deserves the Fellowship of the NSE that has just been conferred on him.”

He advised awardees to continue to follow the paths of humility, honesty, patriotism and dedication to duty as well as the virtues which earned him the accolade, adding that God rewards the humble and just.

In his charge, Special Adviser to Governour Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Arc Abdulmumin Okara described Engr Sadiq as a “very pious adherent of Isalm” whose quest for excellence in virtue began from a tender age.

I take a lot of pride in the fact that I am one of the products of Sadiq’s Islamic scholarhood, because he taught me a lot that brought me close to God.”

Arc. Okara expressed Joy that apart from being an authority in Islam, Sadiq has also become an authority in Civil Engineering. He further explained that the appointment of Sadiq as Commissioner is an evidence of the determination of the Yahaya Bello administration to turn around the infrastructural fortunes of Kogi state, adding that Sadiq is a remarkable promise in that regard.

Okara who described Sadiq for his ability to maintain a balance of commitment between family and work-life commended Engr Sadiq’s wife for giving him the moral and psychological support needed to attain the pinnacle of recognition in engineering. Okara advised wives of professionals to support their husbands in order to ensure their advancement professionally.

I think you are the best couple of the year,” he added.

The DG Kogi State Grassroots Sensitisation and Information Centre, Mal Abdulmaliq Abdulkarim who described Engr Sadiq as a man of magnanimous goodwill, recalled that the duo first met about seventeen years ago, in Abuja, at a forum which aimed to fashion out new leadership for the state.

According to Abdulkarim, “Engr Abudlmumini Sadiq voluntarily played crucial roles aimed at ensuring the success of the forum,’ stating that Sadiq made significant financial contributions to the cause of the organisation.

Abdulkarim recounted how the awardee surprised the Forum by disposing his landed property in order to provide the funds needed to execute the objectives of the Forum.

It was one of the most amazing gestures I have known in my entire political life,” he said, adding that no one else could have been so magnanimous. “He sold his highly prized landed property and donated the fund for the cause of the common good. I repeat that we were all amazed because he was not even the candidate we were fronting at the time, yet he made such a costly sacrifice so that the common will can succeed in the interest of a better Kogi State.”

Recalling Sadiq’s professional antecedents, Abdulkarim said the Fellow of the NSE ‘performed so well at the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority where Engr Sadiq served distinctively as Executive Director,’ adding that no organization will forget him in a hurry.

Throughout his career path and relationship with top engineering service providers like Julius Berger, or service regulators like the FCDA and Upper Niger River Basin Authority, Engr Sadiq did not disappoint us and we know he will do even more now that he is Commissioner.

The Director General therefore called on the youth to emulate Sadiq’s ‘knack for productivity,’ which he described as profound, while expressing concern that the younger generation must learn to achieve success without being inclined to sharp practices.

So I join well-meaning Nigerians and professional institutions to commend the Nigerian Society of Engineers for the eagle eye they exercised by discovering Engr Sadiq and subsequently conferring the prestigious Fellowship on him,” Abdulkarim added.

In a related development, Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Barr Salami Ozigi thanked the NSE for the recognition accorded Engr Abdulmumin Saqiq. He described the Sadiq as an ‘engineer-of-note who has contributed immensely to the infrastructural development of the country through meritorious services rendered through the FCDA.’

Describing the awardee as a good ambassador of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, he advised young engineers to take a clue from Sadiq’s quest for conscious professional development, a disposition he said was instrumental to his advancement to the pinnacle.

Ozigi buttressed the positions of Arc. Okara and Abdulkarim; that the appointment of Sadiq as Commissioner for Infrastructure is evidence of the administration’s commitment to development of Kogi state.

Because Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state is committed to delivering sustainable infrastructures in the state, he got Engr Sadiq to lead the infrastructure revolution in the state,” adding that Alabi has been able to revive comatose agencies in the state and has injected new policies that will engender the provision of good homes, roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts of the state.

I would say, Alabi is the Fashola of our time because as commissioner for Works, Housing, Land and Urban Development in Kogi state, he has deployed his over twenty-five years professional experience in civil engineering to serve the country.

Having him in Governour Yahaya Bello’s cabinet is certainly a plus for the state.”

I don’t want to sound like a praise-singer, but we should learn to commend those who have worked hard enough to deserve commendation, besides, the facts are there for everyone to see,” he said adding that Sadiq’s intelligence in infrastructure matters has remained crucial to the development of the state, in line with the infrastructure provision agenda of the Yahaya Bello administration.

Further commenting on Sadiq’s ‘enviable family life,’ Ozigi said: ‘he is a man of very generous intellect who is willing to give his knowledge for betterment of humankind.’

Ozigi reiterated the opinion that the selection of Engr Sadiq as head of the ministry in charge of Housing, Roads and public infrastructural works is an evidence of the commitment and foresight of Governor Yahaya Bello to restore sanity to the failed infrastructure delivery systems in the state, adding that ‘Governour Bello painstakingly chose distinguished professionals who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields of endeavor, to head the government’s ministries.’

We all know how Lokoja used to be in terms of roads and other infrastructures. As we speak, the Yahaya Bello administration has started impacting on infrastructure in local governments across the state.

Engr sadiq occupies a highly sensitive an office which requires political and professional intelligence.”