The Board of Fellows of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, was further widened at the weekend as additional 24 practitioners who have distinguished themselves in the practice of the profession across the country were elevated into the cadre.
In an elaborate ceremony held in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the weekend, the newly inducted fellows were urged to continue to uphold the ethics of the profession, be seen as respected fellows in the society by performance and make integrity their watchword.
Besides, they were enjoined to increase their entrepreneurial skills in the society for the growth of the profession. One of the highlights of the event was the Award of Honorary Fellow of the institution bestowed on Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabi Musa Kwankwaso, for the giant strides he has made in promoting surveying profession in the state.
Also, past presidents of the institutions and fellows were also honoured for their sustained contributions, while encouraging them to continue their selfless service for the growth of the profession.
Speaking during the investiture of the new fellows, President of the NIS, Mr. Bode Adeaga, said the challenge for the new inductees was for them to become worthy and exemplary leaders in all ramifications such that the profession, their community and the country would continue to benefits from their services.
He also enjoined them to be more careful in whatever they do. Justifying the admission of new members into the Board of Fellows of the institution, he said the exercise was to inject fresh minds, bodies and ideas into its fold, pointing out that the 24 new fellows were made up brilliant and accomplished ladies and gentlemen who have been found worthy after going through the rigorous screening exercise instituted by the association.
Adeaga, maintained that the institution would continue to reach out to members of the public in the drive to create positive relevance and partnering in the development of the nation.
As a strategy to improve leadership, he explained that the institution had participated in a leadership development and strategic change management workshop organised by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria recently, adding that lessons learnt would be taken down the hierarchy of leadership through courses to be organised for current and future leaders.
Elated, one of the inductees, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ogun State, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyokunnu, said, " I feel humbled to be one of those to be inducted into the cadre of fellows of the institution. As you can see, I am the only female, so this gives me honour and I am grateful to God."
She enjoined the upcoming professionals to be more dedicated and diligent, saying if they are committed, they will be identified in the midst of crowd.
The new fellows of NIS include: Mr. Akintola Olufemi, Innocent Egbuh, George Osifeso, Kehinde Isijola, Oba Adetunji Osho, Yashi Usman, Olufemi Ojo, Ranti Osoko, Adebayo Ogungbe, Joe Anosikeh, Igo Assembly Goin, Bassey Akpna and Chief Rasheed Obayanju.
Others are Mr. Pius Chukuemeka, Professor Francis Okeke, Badamasi Tahir, Abiodun Agbeyo, Akinyemi Olatunde, Sunday Eka, Idiku Uche, Chimezie Lawrence, Kayode Odedare and E. B. Awudu
Speaking, Guest Speaker at the event, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, who spoke on "The Dynamics of Application of Surveying and Mapping in Hydrocabon Search and Development in the Niger-Delta," listed some of the importance of surveying and mapping technologies to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
He pointed out that over 80 per cent of all assets deployed in oil and gas exploration and production were location dependent and could be represented by their coordinates.
He said application of GIS has improved the quality of the company business decisions, manage contingencies better, enable it improved response times and save tremendous time and costs. GIS, according to him, has gained ground in managing the surface and subsurface assets, data and information of the company since the late 90s as it covered wells, exploration, reserves, environment, security, sustainable development, emergency response activities, pipelines, planning and commercials.
Sunmonu recalled that during the 2012 unprecedented flooding across the country, he said the company had relied on the professionalism of surveyors who used GIS and Radar Remote Sensing techniques and flood/ tidal information to guide the company in structured/controlled shutdowns.
This exercise, he said saved the company a lot of money. In the absence of survey beacons to accurately transform data to ground realities in the Niger-Delta region due to topography, he said this challenge had compelled Shell to invest in survey infrastructure in the late 60s.
He recalled that Shell has always be in the fore front of the modernisation and development of surveying, mapping and positioning technologies, both onshore and offshore, adding that they cut across technical and non-technical applications as surveyors are involved.
Also speaking the Governor Musa Kwankwaso, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Abdullahhi Umar Ganduje, expressed gratitude to the institution for the honour bestowed him, saying it would spur him to do more critical infrastructure facilities in the state.
He stated that his government is building three new cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo, covering over 30,000 plots and housing units, recalling some of his achievements in the state, saying they were made possible through the engagement of surveyors and application of surveying technologies.
