The Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) has tasked its newly chartered Ikeja Chapter with upholding professional standards, promoting ethical practices and embracing emerging technologies to advance engineering development.
The President of NATE, Mr Dominic Udoatan, gave the charge at the chartering ceremony of the Ikeja Chapter in Lagos.
The event was held under the theme, “Building a Stronger Professional Community Through Unity, Collaboration and Excellence.”
Udoatan said the chapter’s establishment represented institutional growth and a collective commitment to strengthening the engineering technology profession.
He urged the chapter to demonstrate its relevance through competence, innovation, integrity and practical contributions to national development.
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“Engineering technologists must ensure that their practices meet the demands of modern infrastructure while complying with ethical guidelines and safety protocols that protect practitioners and the public.
“The strength of any professional association is not determined solely by its membership strength, but by the standards it upholds, opportunities it creates and difference it makes in society,” he said.
Udoatan said the challenges confronting industries, infrastructure and technological systems required skilled professionals capable of translating technical knowledge into practical solutions.
He described the chartering of the chapter as an opportunity to demonstrate the contributions of engineering technologists to Nigeria’s development.
The NATE president urged the chapter’s leadership to prioritise unity, professionalism and service, warning against personal interests and internal disagreements that could undermine its collective goals.
He also called for an environment where members could advance professionally, younger practitioners received mentorship and the association’s ideals translated into practical achievements.
“Your charter comes with both recognition and responsibility.
“You have been entrusted with the opportunity to build a chapter that will stand as a model of discipline, professional excellence and purposeful leadership,” Udoatan said.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Peter Ekong, Director-General of the Nigerian College of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management, urged members to embrace emerging technologies.
Ekong identified artificial intelligence, automation, renewable energy, digital engineering, robotics and advanced manufacturing as areas requiring greater attention from engineering technologists.
He also urged practitioners to promote indigenous technological development by applying their expertise to local challenges, improving industrial productivity and supporting sustainable national development.
NAN
