Nigeria’s push for technological advancement received renewed emphasis as the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Technologist Kolawole Olabashola, called on the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) to reposition itself as a central force in national policy development and engineering governance.
Addressing guests at the maiden NATE College of Fellows Dinner Night in Abuja, Olabashola said Nigeria’s development aspirations would remain incomplete unless engineering technology is firmly embedded in public planning.
He argued that the College of Fellows must transition from a symbolic body into a robust policy engine capable of shaping decisions on infrastructure, innovation, technical standards, and engineering education.
He recalled how colleagues encouraged him into the fellowship, but reminded the audience that the honour comes with weighty obligations. “Fellowship is not a badge; it is a responsibility. It demands higher commitment, continuous professional development, strong ethical standards, and the capacity to influence policy for the good of the country,” he said.
Warning that the nation faces a widening skills deficit in engineering technology, Olabashola pushed for deliberate mentorship, structured knowledge transfer, and active involvement of senior professionals in national development programmes.
He further encouraged the College of Fellows to create functional policy advisory groups, research teams, and visibility campaigns within and beyond the FCT. He noted that several technologists under his supervision have joined NATE and begun the fellowship process, stressing that “no nation develops beyond its investment in science, technology, and engineering manpower.”
The event also highlighted strides made by the Abuja Branch under its Chairman, Mr. Abraham Okpani, who announced that membership had grown from zero to 141 fully updated technologists, placing the branch among the strongest nationwide.
He emphasized that Abuja technologists now hold seats in strategic bodies such as the FCDA Development Control, the Building Committee, and the NATE Way Forward Committee—platforms that have enhanced the association’s policy relevance.
Okpani added that the branch had secured a new office location, inducted 15 fellows during his tenure, and now requires members’ support to furnish the facility. “Professional growth must go hand-in-hand with institutional strengthening. We must be visible, coordinated and influential if we want our voices to shape national engineering policies,” he said.
For the newly inaugurated College of Fellows, Interim Chairman Mr. Yunusa Abubakar described its establishment as a defining moment in NATE’s history. He said the College must lead in standard-setting, policy engagement, and retraining of technologists, while ensuring that long-serving senior professionals in the FCT are identified and reintegrated into strategic national roles.
“Fellowship is the highest recognition, but it comes with the highest expectation. We must build a fellowship body that shapes policy, strengthens national competence, and prepares the next generation for emerging technologies,” Abubakar stated, urging members to take ownership of the new structure.
The ceremony culminated in the formal induction of new fellows, marking a significant milestone in NATE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism and enhance its national relevance.
LV