The newly inaugurated leadership of the Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) has pledged to reposition consulting engineers as indispensable partners in Nigeria’s development.
Kunle Adebajo, the new president of the association has therefore urged members to pursue impact, innovation and ethical leadership.
Adebajo explained that engineering remains central to national transformation, noting that infrastructure, healthcare, energy and technology all depend on the “deep-rooted application of engineering principles to transform ideas into practical solutions.”
“Our priority is to position consulting engineers as indispensable partners in Nigeria’s development journey; this means moving beyond just the role of technical service providers to becoming trusted advisors, policy advisors, and champions of sustainable development,” he said.
Adebajo spoke in Lagos on Thursday during his investiture ceremony, which drew government officials, industry leaders and members of the engineering community.
Declaring that “the stakes are very high,” Adebajo said his presidency would be anchored on collaboration and collective action, warning that Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit continues to threaten economic growth and competitiveness.
“Nigeria stands at crossroads. Our infrastructure deficit remains a major threat to economic growth and global business,” he said.
He acknowledged progress in some areas but noted that “millions still lack access to reliable electricity, safe water, efficient transportation, and resilient public works.” According to him, addressing these gaps requires not only investment, but also innovation, intelligence and education.
He emphasised continuous professional development and global best practices, adding that consulting engineers must ensure projects meet “global standards of safety and efficiency.”
He urged members to focus on measurable outcomes. “If we are doing our work and doing all our activities without impact, we are getting nothing. What we will be looking for is impact,” he said.
In his lecture, Bambo Adebowale underscored the strategic importance of consulting engineers in national planning and execution, warning that sidelining technical expertise has severe consequences.
“I do not build bridges, but I cross them. I do not calculate load factors, but I’m grateful that somebody does,” he said, acknowledging the often understated but critical role engineers play in everyday life.
He observed that many infrastructure failures stem from compromised engineering processes.
“When more than half of major public infrastructure projects are delayed or cost overruns occur, it’s rarely because the plan was not improved. It’s usually because consulting engineering assumptions were ignored, rushed, underfunded, or compromised,” he said.
Adebowale cautioned that the cost of engineering failures goes beyond finances. “When engineering fails in Nigeria, people pay. They pay with their lives. They pay with their money. They pay with safety, but above all, they pay with confidence,” he said.
With Nigeria projected to become one of the three most populous countries globally by 2050, he said the scale of infrastructure demand would intensify.
“This deficit is not merely a technical statistic. It’s an engineering limitation,” he said, urging ACEN’s over 200 member firms to take a more proactive role in shaping policy, standards and project governance.
Delivering a goodwill message, Ogun State deputy governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described the investiture as consequential rather than ceremonial.
“The consulting engineering profession sits at a critical intersection in national development. It is not merely about drawings or designs. It is about shaping the physical platform of our economy,” she said.
She urged the new ACEN leadership to defend professional standards and invest in mentorship. “My charge… is clear: defend professional standards without fear or favour. Invest deliberately in mentorship and succession. Insist on continuous professional development,” she said.
In a message delivered on behalf of Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos deputy governor, the state government reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with professional bodies to address infrastructure deficits and curb buildings collapse.
The representative noted that structural failures, often linked to poor design and substandard construction practices, “pose serious threats to public safety and investor confidence.”
“As Nigeria continues to urbanise at an accelerated pace, the demand for smart cities, resilient infrastructure, and environmentally responsible engineering solutions will increase. Consulting engineers must, therefore, remain at the forefront of innovation, technical advisory, and ethical professionalism,” he said.
