Adebajo: Defining the Course of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria for the 21st Leadership Circle

The Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) recently took on a new leadership with the Investiture of Engineer Adekunle Adebajo as its 21st President. Esther Oluku reports that the event was not just a celebration of personal achievement as it also laid the foundation for ACEN’s impact for its 21st leadership circle

The investiture ceremony of Eng. Adekunle Adebajo popularly addressed as Eng. Kunle Adebajo, as the 21st President of ACEN, was both a celebration of over four decades of professional excellence and a recognition years of exceptional leadership within various spheres of engineering practice in Nigeria garnering fellow engineering professionals, government officials and policy makers. The occasion also served as an opportunity to appraise ACEN’s contribution to nation building in the past while charting the strategy for impact in a new era.

Coming at a time of ongoing fiscal reforms and mounting security pressures, Adebajo explained that journey ahead would require a shared commitment rooted in collective action and professional excellence. For Adebajo, his mission as the 21st President of ACEN is clear: “to build a stronger, more impactful profession, elevating the impact of consulting engineering internationally.” 

He noted that for the 21st administration of ACEN, the priority is to position consulting engineers as indispensable partners in Nigeria’s development, moving beyond just the role of technical service providers, to becoming trusted advisors, policy influencers, and champions of sustainable growth.

Highlighting the challenges 

According to him, some of Nigeria’s current challenges include the need for good roads, power systems, water supply, digital networks, and industrial processes amongst others which he said has the potential to improve productivity, connectivity and overall quality of life for citizens. 

As such, he opined that professionals within the consulting engineering space must as a matter of urgency work towards contributing to making the country greater.

“We cannot continue the way we are now, moving forward. We must not be left behind. It should be clear to everyone that we have a great deal to contribute towards developing this country. 

“The development that we so desperately need in this country is a unique one because every meaningful advance in society, whether it’s infrastructure, healthcare, energy, technology- it requires the deliberate application of resources to transform ideas into practical solutions.”

The need for investments, collaboration and advocacy in driving progress

He stated that Nigeria stands at crossroads with infrastructure deficit serving as a major barrier to economic growth and global competitiveness such that despite progress recorded, many still lack access to reliable electricity, safe water, efficient transportation, and resilient public works. 

The scale of the challenge, he noted, demands not just investment, but innovation, integrity, and collaboration.

“There is a need to focus on thinking beyond just our unique challenges. We need to advocate for infrastructure and policies that will serve generations to come. As consulting engineers, our expertise is dispensable in bridging the infrastructure gap and ensuring that projects meet global standards of safety, efficiency, and sustainability,” he shared.

Upholding global standard, continuous professional development 

Looking into the future, Adebajo stated that the professional body must not continue to assume that the successes and methods of the past will be enough for the future. He urged professionals to embrace the standard of global best practices and continuous professional development for global relevance.

“We can’t continue assuming that what we have done in the past is okay for today. One of the things we must do is to ensure inclusivity and inclusion. Most young professionals are in their 20s. So, youth engagement is not just an oral imperative, it is essential. 

“While engaging the standards of continuous professional development and knowledge sharing, we also need to embrace innovation and digital transformation, which means adapting to technological change.”

The investiture, therefore, was more than a ceremonial milestone. It was a clarion call to action — a reminder that as ACEN comes of age under its 21st president, so too must the profession rise to meet the demands of a nation in search of sustainable progress.