The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Mohammad Goronyo, has said that Nigeria’s greatest export is not oil, nor gas, but her people, who are skilled, intelligent, and determined.
This was as he said that Nigerian engineers both at home and in the diaspora remain the true backbone of the country’s development and sustainability drive.
The Minister who stated these at the 2025 Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), London Branch Conference, where he represented Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said that engineers remain central to Nigeria’s ambition to achieve modern, resilient, and environmentally responsible infrastructure.
Speaking on the theme; “The Role of Engineers in Infrastructure Sustainability,” Goronyo pointedly said that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places infrastructure at the centre of Nigeria’s development strategy, stressing that without modern, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure, no nation can achieve prosperity, inclusivity, or competitiveness.
While highlighting 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, the Minister of State, said all are being executed to international standards of safety, quality, and sustainability.
Goronyo also pointed at the mass housing schemes, renewable energy investments, and climate-sensitive urban renewal projects as evidence of the administration’s commitment to sustainability and social dignity.
According to him; “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”.
The Minister paid glowing tribute to Nigerian engineers across the globe, and commended their resilience, innovation, and continued commitment to the country’s growth.
Goronyo noted that engineers in Nigeria have been instrumental in delivering highways, housing estates, ICT platforms, and water projects that sustain the economy while those in the diaspora are contributing to cutting-edge global innovations as well as mentoring young Nigerians and bridging knowledge gaps.
He said; “You remain a vital bridge between global best practices and our domestic realities. Wherever Nigerian engineers are found, progress is never far behind”.
Goronyo emphasised that infrastructure sustainability is about thinking in terms of generations, and not electoral cycles, thus tasked engineers to integrate resilience, adaptability, and green technologies into their work, while also strengthening Nigeria’s maintenance culture.
The minister stressed the need for mentoring the next generation of Nigerian engineers in order to ensure 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.
He said; “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.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of development, but it is engineers who provide the heartbeat that keeps it alive. 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”.
A statement by Maryam M. Sanusi, Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said Goronyo praised the NSE London Branch for its tireless work in promoting professional excellence and sustaining global linkages.
