OGBONNA IWUAGWU
The Imo State Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has challenged the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE), to henceforth ensure strict monitoring of all engineering construction works in the country.
This, he said would stem the temper of poor quality engineering works and also spare the citizens from hazards and dangers arising from lack of professionalism.
Chief Ihedioha, who gave the charge at the 4th Edition of the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu annual lecture series held at the Imo International Trade and investment Centre in Owerri, argued that the poor engineering construction works carried out by the immediate past administration in the state could have been averted if the engineers had denounced it, stressing that as critical sector in nation building, they should neither keep quite nor sit on the fence when things are going wrong in their profession.
“You should always monitor buildings and Road constructions whether being executed by the government, individuals or non governmental organizations to save our people from hazards and hardship”, lamenting that the flyovers and roads built by the departed Rochas Okorocha administration had now become death traps for motorists, commuters and members of the public.
The governor said that he had since upgraded the technical colleges in Osu, Orlu, Ahiara Mbaise including the government Technical College Owerri even as he extolled Chief E.C Iwuanyanwu as a colossus who has control to make immense contributions to the development of the state and the nation at large, noting that his foundation has uplifted the standard of living of the youths across the country.
He appealed to indigenes of the state at home and in Diaspora to assist his administration in its Rebuild Imo Project even he appreciated Iwuanyanwu on the 4th Edition of his Animal lecture.
In his address earlier, Chief Iwuanyanwu disclosed that he was part of the team that designed and produced the first rocket on the Nigerian soil.
According to him, under his teacher, the Late Prof. Gordian Ezekwem he became part of this engineering team which achieved the feat, adding that he had always addressed everything about engineering profession with deep commitment.
Continuing, the famous politician and member BOT of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said at that time, the rocket they produced and designed could deliver war heads up to 8miles pointing out that he also took part in the production of many war weapons.
Among these, he continued were; an Ocean berge that could carry a pile driver that delivered piles in deep sea. Eng. Chief Iwuanyanwu further said “as a young engineer a built the Enugu Airport and then carried out experiment on flexible pavement which transformed the flexible pavement from BS to ASHO (Asphaltic Concrete)