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The Nigeria Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE), has conferred its prestigious distinguished fellowship on Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan.
Olaniyan was inducted during the association’s 6th Annual Conference, themed “Geosciences for Sustainability of Structures and the Environment,” held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan recently.
The association said the investiture was in attestation of Olaniyan’s outstanding performance as a foremost practitioner among the cadre of engineers in Nigeria.
Also, the investiture comes on the heels of his track records as an accomplished civil engineer in the public sector of Oyo State in the last three decades.
Olaniyan, a civil engineer, asserted that the role of geological engineers is important in putting up structures since they studied the earth and buildings are erected on the earth. He stressed that their expertise is needed on what kind of structure fits the earth.
The deputy governor encouraged the association to formally write to the state government and recommend what their role and importance is, so that the government can adopt their suggestions as policy.
He lamented the spate of building collapse across the country, assuring that the state government is determined to see an end to such occurrences.
Olaniyan said that a recommendation from the association will be reviewed and adopted as a policy.
He ppreciated the association for awarding him its biggest honour, promising to be a worthy ambassador while working towards its growth.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Mr. Fidelis Abija, appealed to the state government to incorporate geologists into structural design and material selection plans, especially for public buildings.
Abija called on other engineering sister associations to collaborate with them to deliver value and resilient structures that are sustainable and long lasting.