The 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, FNSE, F.ASCE, FAEng, MFR, has commissioned a solar-powered borehole at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Gidan-Ajiya, Orozo, Abuja, in an ceremony that will stand as a milestone in the records of his administration, as the first official engagement outside the Secretariat.
The water project, implemented by the NSE Maitama Branch, is designed to provide sustainable access to clean and potable water for pupils of the school and residents of the Gidan-Ajiya community. The initiative supports improved public health, hygiene, and learning conditions, while contributing to grassroots infrastructure development. This historic event aligns perfectly with the a strong Pillar of Community Engineering in the NSE Strategic Agenda which the Engr. Ali Rabiu has committed to uphold as the 35th President of the Society.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Engr. Rabiu described the project as timely and impactful, commending the NSE Maitama Branch for its efficiency in project execution. He noted that the intervention reflects the Society’s commitment to applying engineering solutions to addressing critical community needs.
The President was accompanied on the assignment by the Deputy President, Engr. Valerie Ifueko Agberegba, FNSE; Past President Engr. Kashim Ali, FNSE, FAEng, mni; Past President Engr. Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, FNSE, mni; members of the NSE Maitama Branch; Engineers from other NSE Branches within the Federal Capital Territory, school pupils, management and representatives of the local community leadership.
The NSE President stated that the project exemplifies the Society’s Community Engineering initiative, a core component of NSE’s professional and social responsibility framework. He emphasised that the initiative complements government efforts in the provision of basic infrastructure at the grassroots level. Engr. Rabiu further urged the Branch to establish effective operation and maintenance arrangements to ensure long-term sustainability of the facility.
He also charged the school management and community leadership to adhere strictly to maintenance protocols and to protect the facility against vandalism, in order to preserve its functionality and intended benefits.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NSE Maitama Branch, Engr. Itodo Thomas, FNSE, expressed satisfaction that the Branch had taken the lead among the Society’s 93 Branches worldwide by hosting the first project commissioning conducted by the NSE President since his assumption of office on January 1, 2026.
He assured the President that the Maitama Branch has several community engineering projects in the pipeline, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian Society of Engineers delivers meaningful and sustainable impact within its immediate environment.
SOURCE: IN HOUSE
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