Prof. Bart Nnaji Advocates Engineering Leadership for Nigeria’s Development at NSE Enugu Inauguration
Renowned engineer and former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, has called for a greater role for engineers in national development, emphasizing that engineering leadership is crucial for Nigeria’s sustainable progress. Speaking at the inauguration of Engr. PIC Chukwuma as the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Enugu Branch, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, Nnaji underscored the transformative power of engineering in shaping economies and societies.
Addressing an audience of professionals and stakeholders, Nnaji, who is also the Chairman of Geometric Power, stated that engineers are “God’s instruments in creating a better world.” He argued that engineering offers a structured approach to solving problems, adding, “Engineers do things differently, and they do them better.” His remarks highlighted the need for Nigeria to embrace engineering-driven policies for national advancement.
Drawing examples from China’s rapid economic transformation, Nnaji noted that the country’s last three presidents were engineers, and this background enabled them to drive industrialization with scientific precision. “China’s phenomenal rise from a struggling economy in the 1980s to the world’s second-largest economy today is no accident. It is the result of leadership that values engineering and science,” he said.
He pointed out that despite trade restrictions, China has continued to make groundbreaking advancements, citing its cost-effective development of generative AI models as an example. “While major Western tech firms spend billions on artificial intelligence, China developed Deep Seek with just $5.6 million. This is the power of engineering-driven leadership,” Nnaji asserted.
The engineering expert also highlighted Vietnam’s strategic focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as a model Nigeria should emulate. “Vietnam is rapidly emerging as another Asian Tiger, producing 92,000 STEM graduates annually. Yet, it still faces a manpower gap due to its fast-paced growth. This should be a lesson to Nigeria,” he said, stressing that prioritizing STEM education would be key to national competitiveness.
Nnaji lamented Nigeria’s underinvestment in science and technology education, comparing it to Asia’s commitment to academic excellence. “For decades, Asian countries have sent their best students to top Western universities to study engineering and sciences. Many of my former students in the United States came from China, South Korea, India, and Indonesia. Today, they are leading innovations in their home countries,” he remarked.
He further argued that effective management and strategic leadership have been Nigeria’s Achilles’ heel. Referencing the late Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, he noted that Africa needs more than activism to earn global respect. “Lee always told African leaders that advocacy alone won’t make the world take us seriously. It is results-driven leadership that changes perceptions,” he emphasized.
Nnaji stressed that engineers have historically led some of the world’s most successful organizations. “From Google and Apple to Nvidia and Microsoft, engineers have built enterprises that define modern civilization. Even in government, engineers have transformed societies. Here in Nigeria, look at Ebonyi State under an engineer-governor—Dave Umahi’s infrastructural revolution speaks for itself,” he stated.
Reflecting on his contributions to Nigeria’s development, Nnaji noted that his engineering background played a crucial role in reshaping the country’s energy sector. “As Minister of Science and Technology in 1993 and later as Minister of Power, I spearheaded critical reforms, including Nigeria’s Power Sector Reform Agenda. My work with Geometric Power and the Aba Integrated Power Project further reinforces the role of engineering in development,” he explained.
The former minister urged the Nigerian government to place engineering at the heart of its economic agenda, insisting that sustainable development would remain elusive without an engineering-driven approach. “No nation ever goes wrong with STEM. Engineers have built airplanes, power plants, bridges, and even put humans on the Moon. Nigeria must learn from this and put engineers at the center of national affairs,” he advised.
In his remarks, newly inaugurated NSE Enugu Chairman, Engr. PIC Chukwuma, pledged to promote engineering excellence and innovation, assuring members that the society would play an active role in national discourse. He described Nnaji’s address as a wake-up call, stating, “Nigeria must rethink its priorities. As engineers, we must not only build but also lead.”
The event, attended by industry experts, policymakers, and academics, underscored the growing recognition of engineering as a catalyst for national progress. With calls for greater investment in STEM education and engineering-led governance, the inauguration served as a rallying point for a more scientifically driven future for Nigeria.
