By Jabiru Hassan
The Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Mohammad Goronyo, has described Nigerian engineers at home and abroad as the true backbone of the country’s development, insisting that “Nigeria’s greatest export is not oil or gas, but her people—skilled, intelligent, and determined.”Goronyo made the remarks while representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2025 Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) London Branch Conference. Addressing professionals, partners, and stakeholders, he spoke on the theme “The Role of Engineers in Infrastructure Sustainability.”
The Minister stressed that engineers remain central to Nigeria’s ambition to build modern, resilient, and environmentally responsible infrastructure. He noted that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places infrastructure at the core of national development, warning that no country can achieve prosperity, inclusivity, or competitiveness without sustainable infrastructure. Highlighting key ongoing projects, Goronyo mentioned the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja–Kano Road rehabilitation, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and the East–West corridor, all of which he said are being executed to international safety and quality standards. He also pointed to mass housing schemes, renewable energy investments, and climate-sensitive urban renewal projects as proof of the administration’s focus on 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,” Goronyo said. He paid tribute to Nigerian engineers globally, commending their resilience, innovation, and contributions both domestically and internationally. At home, he said, engineers are delivering highways, housing estates, ICT platforms, and water projects. Abroad, they are driving global innovations, mentoring young Nigerians, and bridging knowledge gaps. Goronyo further emphasized that infrastructure sustainability requires long-term thinking beyond electoral cycles. He urged engineers to embrace resilience, adaptability, green technologies, and a stronger maintenance culture, while also mentoring the next generation to ensure the profession continues to drive transformation.
While outlining government reforms and partnerships to create an enabling environment for engineering excellence, the Minister called for closer collaboration with professionals in the diaspora. “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 said.Goronyo also commended the NSE London Branch for promoting professional excellence and sustaining global linkages. Concluding his address, he noted: “Infrastructure is the backbone of development, but it is engineers who provide the heartbeat that keeps it alive. Together, let us reaffirm our 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.”
Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda* Nigerian engineers* Infrastructure sustainability* NSE London Conference* Nigeria development projects
