The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Enugu Branch, yesterday at her just concluded 2020 AGM/Election held at Science Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board Hall, Ogui Enugu elected her first Female Chairman, Engr. Mrs. Uchenwa Ujam, FNSE. their happiness to the extra strength showcased by a woman in this thriving society where men seemed to dominate. Engr Ujam recorded a landslide victory scoring 61 votes while her co-contestant, Engr Chibuzo Aka scored 29.
In her official address, the Chairman-Elect, Engr. Mrs. Uchenwa Ujam (FNSE) expressed utmost gratitude to the members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Enugu Branch. She proposed that NSE Enugu Branch has already achieved a landmark by electing her, being the first female chairman over 60 years of the Branch’s existence.
Addressing the issue of building collapse, Engr. Ujam said: “There are many causes of building collapse in our society. The major one is the activity of the quacks, those who answer ‘engineers’ when they are not but are undertaking construction of buildings which is meant to be job of engineers. A body known as the Engineering Regulation and Monitoring (ERM), a regulatory body within the NSE sees to disciplining and sanctioning of such impostors.
“In my tenure, the ERM will be better armed to perform this all important duty. A synergy between the NSE and other bodies in the building construction industry will be pursued. From the designing stage to the final stages of any building project, the quality and strength of materials used in every building construction will be certified by the NSE. This way, we would get close to reducing building collapse in the state as our constituency.
“My tenure shall also have the mentoring of young engineers, especially the female ones as a cardinal Objective with a view to making them self reliant, in view of scarcity of jobs in Nigeria.
“We shall also work closely with the State House of Assembly to organize a Public Hearing in that regard.”
Finally, Lady Ujam, a former HOD, Electrical/Electronics Department, IMT, Enugu stated that the Branch under her leadership shall move to her permanent site within the next six months.
