Ondo Deserves Best Seaport – Akeredolu
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has given assurance of his administration to train more engineers in order to fast track the development of the state.
Arakunrin Akeredolu made this known in Akure during the 2018 Distinguished Engineering Lecture organised by Nigerian Society of Engineers,NSE, Ondo State Chapter.
He said engineers were critical stakeholders to the development of any society because they would assist in the development of the country.
“We have every respect for you because you are involved in everything about development,” he said.
The governor also stressed the need to develop marine and engineering in the state as its importance could not be over emphasized.
“If we cannot have a Marine University, we must have its department in Ondo State University of Science and Technology, OSUSTECH, that will deal strictly with marine.
“Very soon, we will have someone in charge of marine and development because it is very important to us,” he said.
Governor Akeredolu said in view of the fact that Ondo State has the deepest and longest coastline West Africa subregion, the best place to have the biggest and best seaport in Nigeria should therefore be the Sunshine State.
Earlier the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engineer Oloruntoba Abe had said the primary objectives of the NSE was to promote the advancement to engineering education, research and practice in its ramifications.
He explained that this was intended to enhance the professional capabilities of members so as to equip them to fulfill the needs of the profession for the good of the public, Ondo State and the nation in general.
He said engineers have played vital roles in policy formulations, advice on technical issues and infrastructural development in the socio-economic development of the nation.
“It has also been postulated that a country that fails to exploit the vast knowledge and expertise of her engineers will always find itself at the back bench of development, hence, the importance of engineers,” he said.
Awards of Excellence were presented to the Chairman of Mydas Group of Companies/Pacific International Drilling West Africa Ltd, Chief,Dr.Rotimi Ibidapo who was represented by Ambassador Roland Omowa, Rtd, Ojomoluda of Ijebu-Owo, Oba ,Engineer Kofoworola Ojomo and Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.
Other Awardees include; Executive Director,Operations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Engineer Oluwarotimi Fahakin who was the Guest Lecturer among others.