The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ogbomoso Branch, on Tuesday inaugurated Engr. Prof. Alice Oluwafunke Oke, MNSE, MCPN, MNCS, MAPWEN, as its 6th Chairman and the first female to lead the branch since its establishment in 2015.
The historic inauguration ceremony, held at The Hall, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, also featured the swearing-in of new executive committee members under the theme, “Blended Learning in Professional Education: Lessons for Engineering.”
President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, FNSE, F.ASCE, FAEngr., MFR, chaired the occasion, while the Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, R. O. Rom Kalilu, served as Chief Host and was represented by the University Librarian, Prof. Adefunke Sarah Ebijuwa. The Immediate Past Chairman (IPC) of the branch, Engr. Prof. Samson Olakunle Ojoawo, FNSE, hosted the event.
In her inaugural address, Engr. Prof. Oke described her emergence as a divine assignment and pledged to provide impactful and inclusive leadership that would consolidate the achievements of her predecessors.
“As I stand before you, having taken the oath of office as the 6th and first female Chairman, I reaffirm my acceptance of this responsibility with the utmost sense of duty and commitment,” she said.
She outlined her administration’s strategic priorities to include alignment with the NSE national “RESET Agenda,” deepened collaboration with institutions and industries, strengthened technical meetings, increased branch visibility, aggressive membership drive, support for female and young engineers, and completion of the ongoing ultra-modern branch secretariat project.
Prof. Oke appealed for sustained support toward the secretariat project under the “Operation Lay Ten Blocks” initiative, noting that Phase One had reached lintel level through donations from members and national officers.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Tayo Arulogun, identified limited institutional capacity, regulatory rigidity, and infrastructure deficits as the three major bottlenecks confronting professional education in Nigeria.
He said thousands of qualified applicants are denied admission annually due to physical classroom limitations, while strict legacy regulatory frameworks and the high cost of laboratories and clinical facilities continue to restrict access.
“Blended learning does not replace physical training; it complements it with digital tools, expanding access while preserving rigorous standards,” Arulogun stated.
According to him, Nigeria faces critical shortages in key professions and must embrace systemic alignment among regulators, industries, universities and government to scale up professional training. He proposed hybrid models for engineering education, including online delivery of theoretical modules, regional practical hubs equipped with digital simulation tools, and strengthened industry placements in line with regulatory requirements.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of awards on distinguished personalities in recognition of their exceptional contributions to engineering education, professional development and institutional leadership. Honoured at the event were the Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Prof. R. O. Rom-Kalilu, ably represented by the University Librarian, Prof. Adefunke Sarah Ebijuwa; Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, FNSE, Pioneer and Former Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State; Engr. Ademola Agodo, FNSE, Managing Director of Protogy Global Services Limited and former Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers; and Engr. Dawud A. Sulayman (JP), Principal Partner, Sulaymaniyyah Chambers, Maitama, Abuja.
Earlier in his welcome address, Engr. Prof. Ojoawo reviewed the achievements of the outgoing executive, highlighting aggressive membership drives, over 90 percent consistency in monthly technical meetings, collaboration with the national body, community engagement, capacity building initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and sustained progress on the branch secretariat project.
He described the inauguration as a transition “in grand style,” noting that the branch had built on the foundations laid by its founding leaders since July 15, 2015.
The event also witnessed the inauguration of other executive members, including Engr. Prof. M.O. Aremu as General Secretary; Engr. Prof. R.O. Abolade as Vice Chairman; Engr. Prof. O.S. Olaniyan as Treasurer; Engr. Dr. M.O. Fajobi as Publicity Secretary; Engr. Dr. A.A. Sulayman as Financial Secretary; and Engr. S.O.A. Akinola as Technical Secretary, among others.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Mr. Martins Akinola, Chairman of Brent Group; Engr. Prof. Zacchaeus K. Adeyemo, FNSE, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, LAUTECH; Engr. Dr. A. Peter Alamu, FNSE; and the Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government, Hon. Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy.
Also present were Evang. Doyin Olayiwola and Engr. Prof. John O. Olajide as Fathers of the Day, and Engr. Prof. Tinuade Jolaade Afolabi as Mother of the Day.
The ceremony underscored a defining moment for the NSE Ogbomoso Branch—popularly known as “The Valiant Branch”—as it combined leadership transition with a forward-looking discourse on reforming professional education through technology-driven innovation.
With the inauguration of its first female chairman and a renewed commitment to strategic growth, the branch signaled its resolve to strengthen engineering practice and professional development in Ogbomoso, Oyo State and Nigeria at large.