From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
The Rauf Aregbesola Engineering Resource Tower, Lagos, conceived as a training ground for engineering skills, development and local content to bridge the gap between classroom and the industry, has been launched into operation.
The training centre was built by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
The Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, who commissioned the facility, noted that the initiators envisioned the innovative building to “serve as a training, development and resource place for the professional development of all engineers and production of parts for commercial purpose.
“This well-conceived project will help to develop our young engineers and create an atmosphere of learning and re-learning.
“It will help in creating more jobs in the techno-preneurship space for young engineers, and also give opportunity to practicing engineers in the area of professional development and local content practice.”
He commended the former executive committee, led by Mrs. Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, which initiated the project, and the incumbent leadership led by Tosin Ogunmolade for its effort in bringing it to fruition.
“It gives me great pleasure to be among you today to commission this edifice of significance. It is indeed a sight to behold. Let me start by congratulating the president, executives and all members of the society for cooperating and collaborating to make sure that this vision comes to fulfillment. You should be proud of yourselves.
“This laudable project was named after a great engineering icon and my good friend, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, whose passion and drive for engineering skills, development and local content cannot be over-emphasised.
“Aregbesola’s love for the profession propelled him to buy into the project and help in raising the necessary funds for the building. One of his areas of interest is welding certification. He had a special passion for underwater welding and is taking the bull by the horn in solving the challenge of scarce engineers in that space.
“Aregbesola has contributed greatly to the development of engineering and engineering personnel in Nigeria hence the honour of having this building in his name.”
Stating his organisation’s readiness for a mutually-benefitting partnership with the NSE in order to continually harness the best in the trade, Afolabi added: “At SIFAX Group, we recognise value when we see one.
“I must say that this project is of value. We are leading a charge where all our engineers are putting their best into making sure that we continue to deliver value to all our customers.
“Our engineers at SAHCO Plc, one of the subsidiaries of the Group in the aviation sector, has produced equipment sourced from local materials which have received global attention and mention.”
