THE Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has declared that Nigerian engineers, both at home and in the diaspora are the true backbone of the country’s development and sustainability drive, insisting that “Nigeria’s greatest export is not oil, nor gas, but her people, skilled, intelligent, and determined.”
News Point Nigeria reports that Goronyo made the statement at the 2025 Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), London Branch Conference, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and addressed a distinguished audience of professionals, partners, and stakeholders.
Speaking on the theme “The Role of Engineers in Infrastructure Sustainability,” the minister stressed that engineers remain central to Nigeria’s ambition to achieve modern, resilient, and environmentally responsible infrastructure.
Goronyo reiterated that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places infrastructure at the centre of Nigeria’s development strategy, noting that “without modern, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure, no nation can achieve prosperity, inclusivity, or competitiveness.”
He highlighted ongoing landmark projects including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the rehabilitation of the Abuja–Kano Road, the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and the East–West corridor, all of which he said are being executed to international standards of safety, quality, and sustainability.
The minister also pointed to mass housing schemes, renewable energy investments, and climate-sensitive urban renewal projects as evidence of the administration’s commitment to sustainability and social dignity.
“These projects are not merely concrete and steel; they are opportunities for economic empowerment, engines for commerce, and platforms for social advancement. And behind each of them stand engineers whose dedication and skill make the vision a reality,” he declared.
The minister paid glowing tribute to Nigerian engineers across the globe, commending their resilience, innovation, and continued commitment to the country’s growth.
At home, he said, engineers have been instrumental in delivering highways, housing estates, ICT platforms, and water projects that sustain the economy. In the diaspora, they are contributing to cutting-edge global innovations while mentoring young Nigerians and bridging knowledge gaps.
“You remain a vital bridge between global best practices and our domestic realities,” Goronyo said. “Wherever Nigerian engineers are found, progress is never far behind.”
Goronyo emphasised that infrastructure sustainability is about thinking in terms of generations, not electoral cycles. He challenged engineers to integrate resilience, adaptability, and green technologies into their work, while also strengthening Nigeria’s maintenance culture.
He further stressed the need for mentoring the next generation of Nigerian engineers, ensuring that the profession continues to drive national transformation in decades to come.
While outlining government reforms, investments, and partnerships designed to create an enabling environment for engineering excellence, Goronyo called for closer collaboration with professionals at home and abroad.
“We need your ideas, your skills, your networks, and your passion. We need you to keep building bridges, both literally and figuratively, between Nigeria and the wider world of engineering knowledge and practice,” he urged.
The minister praised the NSE London Branch for its tireless work in promoting professional excellence and sustaining global linkages.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of development, but it is engineers who provide the heartbeat that keeps it alive,” he concluded. “Together, let us reaffirm our collective resolve to build a Nigeria where infrastructure is modern and sustainable, development is for today and tomorrow, and engineers remain at the forefront of transformation.”
