Foluseke Abidemi Somolu Foundation Holds Second Public Lecture on the Place of Knowledge, Competence and Integrity in Engineering Practice

The Foluseke Abidemi Somolu Foundation recently held its second public lecture, with the theme: ‘The Place of Knowledge, Competence and Integrity in Engineering Practice’. 

This virtual event held on the Zoom platform, and simultaneously streamed on the Foundation YouTube channel (FASomoluFoundation). 

The lecture was delivered by Engr. John Ayodele FAEng, FNSE, FNIEEE, FNIPE, a distinguished power systems engineer and a former CEO of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company. 

Engr. Ayodele drew upon his decades of experience and expertise to shine a light on the ethical and personal attributes that must be considered as part of successful professional practice in the Nigerian engineering sector. 

Although the focus was on engineering, there was much that drew the attention and interest of the general audience, especially those concerned with the role of technocrats and professionalism in national development.

This will be the second public lecture hosted by the Foluseke Abidemi Somolu Foundation, following the inaugural lecture, delivered at the launch of the Foundation in 2018, by Professor James Momoh, emeritus professor at Howard University and former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The public lectures are a key component in the Foundation’s goal of advancing engineering practice in Nigeria. Other intended components will include publications and scholarship programs for future engineers. 

Foluseke Abidemi Somolu, a four-decade veteran of the Nigerian electric power industry, and a former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, was an accomplished member of the Nigerian engineering community, a tireless advocate on behalf of engineering professionals and a promoter of the application of technology and engineering knowledge in society at large. 

In 2018, three years after the passing of Engr. Somolu, members of his immediate family and several of his close friends and professional colleagues came together to honour his memory and legacy by forming the Foluseke Abidemi Somolu Foundation. The Foundation, registered as a Non-profit Organization, has the goal of ensuring the advancement of engineering practice in Nigeria, and to encourage and empower upcoming generations of engineers.

The Foundation is conceived as embodying the best qualities of Engr. Somolu himself: his excitement about engineering and technology, his intellectual curiosity, and his great desire that the highest standards of professionalism be combined with cutting edge technology and business savvy to drive a vibrant and sustainable sector that will meaningfully contribute to Nigerian and African progress.