By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The Nigerian engineering community is set for a major leadership transition as Engineer Ali Alimasuya Rabiu is formally invested as the 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The ceremony, scheduled to hold at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, marks a significant moment for the profession and underscores the growing national relevance of engineering in Nigeria’s development agenda.

The event will be hosted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected as Distinguished Guest of Honour.

Other eminent personalities billed to grace the occasion include former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad (rtd).

As he prepares to assume office, Engineer Rabiu has articulated a leadership vision anchored on unity, integrity and accountability.

In a New Year goodwill message to members, he stressed that the strength of the Society lies in effective collaboration across its branches and divisions, noting that Nigeria’s complex development challenges require a united and disciplined engineering community.

He pledged transparent and inclusive leadership, urging engineers to prioritise collective progress above personal ambition in the interest of the profession and the nation.

Born in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Engineer Rabiu is a seasoned civil engineer with academic training in engineering and business administration from Bayero University, Kano.

A COREN-registered professional, he holds fellowships in several national and international engineering and management bodies and is widely respected within and outside Nigeria.

His career spans decades of professional practice and public service, with involvement in major infrastructure projects across several states, including roads, bridges and water schemes. He has also served as a consultant to national investigative panels and played key roles in assessing critical infrastructure failures and public facility emergencies.
Within the NSE, his rise through the ranks reflects years of consistent leadership and service.

He previously chaired the Kano Branch, served multiple terms as National Vice President and later as Deputy President, contributing significantly to policy formulation and financial oversight at the highest level of the Society.

Engineer Rabiu also left a notable imprint at the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, where he served as President from 2019 to 2023. His tenure, often described as an “enforcement era,” focused on strengthening regulation, improving professional standards and advancing global recognition of Nigerian engineering qualifications.

Under his leadership, COREN pursued curriculum reforms, expanded monitoring of engineering practice and forged strategic partnerships, including in renewable energy certification.

Known for his forthright views, he has consistently advocated stronger support for indigenous engineers and a reduction in overdependence on foreign expertise. Beyond professional circles, his contributions to education and community development in Nasarawa State have earned him traditional honours and public recognition.

Engineer Rabiu takes over from Engineer Margaret Oguntala, the Society’s first female President, whose tenure recorded notable gains in professionalism, capacity building and stakeholder engagement.
As the baton changes hands at Aso Rock, expectations are high that the incoming President’s experience and reform-driven outlook will further position engineering as a central force in Nigeria’s development journey.