NSE Honours Leemon Ikpea, Chair/CEO Lee Group with Fellowship

Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, indigenous technology promoter and founding chairman/CEO of Lee Group of Companies, Dr. (Chief) Leemon Agbonjague Ikpea, was yesterday conferred with Honourary Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, at the Abuja headquarters of the 66-year-old organization.

In a formal ceremony presided over by Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, the 34th and first female president of NSE, Chief Leemon Ikpea was decorated and subsequently conferred with Honourary Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, FNSE.

Engr. Kamila Maliki, FNSE, Mni, Chairman, Board of Fellows of NSE, decorated the new conferee, Chief Ikpea, watched by a cross section of top personalities including the NSE President, NSE Board of Fellows, Ex-co members and dignitaries.

“Today, we honour a remarkable individual, Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea, CON, JP, a man of exceptional achievements, inspirational leadership and dedicated community service.

“This honorary Fellowship is so conferred on Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea to recognize his outstanding contributions and it is a prestigious acknowledgement of his enduring legacy to engineering and engineering practice. We express a special welcome to our distinguished conferee and his friends who have joined us for this special occasion.

“The Nigerian Society of Engineers, now 66-year strong, has a proud tradition of excellence. Since its inauguration the society has conferred honourary fellowships on only 42 individuals, making this conferment a distinguished honour. Congratulations sir, for this exceptional recognition.

“This event not only provides us with the opportunity to celebrate but to engage in meaningful discussion on how we can contribute in driving infrastructural and economic development of our nation,” Engr. Kamila Maliki told his rapt, distinguished audience in the preliminary conferment statement.

Thereafter, the President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, proclaimed the honourary conferment. Her words: “I, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, by the Grace of God and common will of Nigerian engineers, President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, by the powers vested in me, hereby confer on you, Chief Leemon Ikpea, CON, JP, Fellowship of Nigerian Society of Engineers. Congratulations.”

An elated Chief Ikpea told THISDAY that “This honour by the Nigerian Society of Engineers means a lot to me. This special society is a crucial stakeholder in our national journey. I am so excited and humbled. It challenges me to do more and go further. Today is indeed a really special. Working together, we can indeed aid in transforming our country. I thank and appreciate the Nigerian Society of Engineers.”

The newest NSE Fellow, Chief Ikpea, is the founding Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the 33-year-old Lee Engineering Group of Companies, a conglomerate traversing oil and gas services, engineering construction, travels and tours, and equipment fabrication and manufacturing.

Lee Engineering and Allied Companies Group is now a leading indigenous oil, gas and power services company performing brilliantly and professionally in the league of multinationals.

Chief Ikpea is also at the forefront of the promotion of indigenous technology, to take up the challenges of the oil and gas sector and engineering construction, jobs that were hitherto, the forte of big foreign companies.

Chief Ikpea who covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders, policy makers and sure-footed action told THISDAY that “It’s no secret that today, the world, Africa and Nigeria stand on the brink of substantial disruptions – and also of considerable opportunity – as new governance, political and business models challenge traditional playbooks.”

According to him, only leaders with bold visions can provide the needed stability and safety as they grapple with the challenges and imperatives of transformation.