Inaugural Address of the 3rd President of the Offa Engineers, Engr. Maruf Olalekan AJENIFUJA, FNIAE, on 1st January, 2025
It’s a great privilege and honour to address you all today with profound gratitude and humility as the 3rd President of our great union, the Offa Engineers.
History was made yesterday, 31st December, 2024 as another Annual General Meeting (AGM) of our great union where new elected officials of Offa Engineers were produced, was declared open by the Life Matron and doyen of the revenue ecosystem in Kwara state, the Chairperson of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Engr. Chief (Mrs) Shade Omoniyi.
On behalf of the entire Executive Council of the Offa Engineers, I hereby express our profound gratitude to our Life Patron, a legendary leader and patriarch, Prof. S. O. Adeyemi, FNSE, the Vice Patron and astute technocrat, Engr Jaiyeola Akinola, Life Matron and distinguished administrator, Engr. Chief (Mrs) Shade Omoniyi and Vice Matron, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The Gambia, Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde for their guidance, great support and unending sacrifices.
The significant presence of the Chairman of Offa Local Government, Alh. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, the ODU global President, Alhaji Muideen Olaniyi Azeez-Salako, the President of Club 80, Offa, Engr. Tosho Alabi and a legendary engineering stalwart and Ex-Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), North-Central Engr. Dr. (Otunba) Mustapha Ahmed, FNSE, at the AGM is a testament to the success of the past administration led by my predecessor and big brother, Engr. Fatai Yusuf.
By the power of our constitution and the words we speak, I hereby pronounce today that the immediate past President of our great union, Engr. Fatai Yusuf, has now joined the league of our leaders as a Vice Patron of the Offa Engineers.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it’s now the dawn of a new era and a new administration to consolidate on the gains of previous regimes. We understand that the Offa Engineers have come a long way but its journey is still long, the road is very rough, the challenges are many, the resources are limited and time is always short.
On behalf of our vibrant Exco, I hereby invite all our esteemed Engineers to join us in this clarion call and dance to the music of our time. It’s time to shoulder more responsibilities not only to ourselves and our families but also to Offa community and our nation.
The birth of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Offa Branch under the last administration was a noble and notable one. This administration will support its growth, not growth for the sake of growth like the philosophy of cancer but growth to ensure that the branch does not gasp for breath nor turn into an orphan.
This administration will focus on the critical aspects of the 9-Point Transformation Agenda of our great union. One of the top priorities is the establishment of the Engineering Centre, Offa as a hub for the transformation of our women and youths into modern economic agents. Improvement of water Infrastructure is also on the priority list. We will also strengthen our handshake of collaboration and partnership with the Offa LGA, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU), One Innovation Hub just to mention but a few, on enforcement of standards, infrastructure development and capacity building.
This administration will run an open door policy with special considerations for the yearnings and aspirations of our esteem members. We will introduce general meetings to harvest your inputs, upscale professional knowledge, and strengthen our spirit of community development services. In due course, this administration will unveil to the general house its roadmap that will guide the implementation of our activities.
Distinguished elders and leaders, respected colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it requires collective efforts to achieve collective glory and success. Offa community is our treasure beyond measure. Upholding the philosophy of self-help handed over to us by our forefathers is required to transform Offa community into the SMALL LONDON we all profess.
It’s time to turn rhetoric into results. It’s time to turn ambition into action. It’s time to turn programs into progress.
I wish you all a Happy New Year 2025.
God bless Offa Engineers!
God bless Offa Community!
God bless Kwara State!
God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria!
