X-RAY ON NSE ABABRANCH � THE GENESIS

BY ENGR AGBAI N.AGBAI � FNSE

The practice of Engineering in the business city of Aba received a boost in September, 1984 when it was given a branch status. Before this date, Aba usedto be part of the Owerri branch. From the early seventies, engineers in Abawere practicing as individuals without a common course. From early eighties,Engineers notably Engineers Okoye, Nwachukwu, Aghanya, Dillibe and Meniru (of blessed memory) started talking about coming together for a common purpose,as  only few could attend meetings  at Owerri. Although meetings were also heldin Aba as the need arose. As at 1983, meetings became regular and strong.Workshops, local (AGMs) and other social activities were not left out.

The first executive team was inaugurated in mid-June 1983 with Engr. C.I Okoye(FNSE) as the first Chairman and Engr E.C Dillibe (FNSE) of blessed memory asthe first secretary. They did their best to bring Engineers within and aroundAba to fellowship monthly using Engr. Dillibe�s garage as Secretariat. This is how we continued till we were recognized as a branch in September, 1984.

 MEMBERSHIP

 At recognition, the membership strength stood at about 5 registered Engineers withabout 10 registrable Engineers. For now, the membership strength stands atabout 200 most of who outside Aba. 

SECRETARIAT

The branch had met severally in various places before settling at the present secretariat located at the ministry of works and housing premises along Ikot EkpeneRoad, Aba. As said earlier, the initial place of meeting was at No. 8 AbakStreet, GRA using engr. Dillibe�s garage. From there to NEPA canteen, then wemoved to the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (now Bank if Industries)conference room. Apart from the monthly meetings, we also used theaccommodation for our professional interviews, from the NIDB, we moved to theexecutive chambers of the Aba South Local Government Area with improvedfacilities. By the middle of 2006, we became accommodated government at the AbiaState Zonal office of the ministry of works and housing along Ikot Ekpene Road(opposite PHCN) Aba.
It has since become our multi-purpose hall. Apart from serving as a meeting place on the last Monday of every month, it is also being used for committee meetings,socials and professional examinations. The branch has played host to about six NSE Presidents. As far back as 1998, the branch has always encouraged members to attend and to participate actively at AGMs and other national programmes.

SPOUSES ASSOCIATION
Our spouses� Association is as old as the branch itself and has continued to waxstronger. They have over the years been strongly behind the Engineers at AGMSand at Social gatherings. They meet monthly and as the need arises.
COMMUNITY ENGINEERING
We have actively identified with the Aba Community where we operate. We haveidentified with the various Engineering problems of Aba. Notably among these isthe de-watering of the Ama-Ikonne section of Faulks road that leads to thepopular Ariaria International Market. This road was impassable till the branchcame in to salvage it.
Wegave a warning note to government on the dredging of the second Ogbor-Hill bridge at the outskirts of Ngwa Road. Our members are involved in other fields ofEngineering like power transmission and distribution, production industries andin privately owned establishments. The branch has severally been invited as guests to television houses to enlighten the public on the way forward on infr-  astructural decays. We have presented position papers, some in the television houses.
INDUSTRIAL VISITS
As  part of the Community Engineering, we  have made industrial visits to Engineering organizations within Aba and itsenvirons which includes P.z, Unilever, International Equitable Asso., NigerianBreweries, PHCN 132/330kV injection sub-station, Alaoji, Afam Power Station,etc.
We have a good rapport with higher institutions in Abia State notably; The Abia State University, Uturu and the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. Thesee visits wereaimed at encouraging these institutions to establish proper faculties ofEngineering in their various institutions. We have a programme on career andguidance counseling to secondary schools within the State.
CONCLUSION:
The practice of Engineering in the commercial city of Aba has not been very easy as every artisan tries to copy whatever comes his way. Nevertheless, with theintroduction of the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) in the system. Engineeringpractice is gradually being tamed for engineers and the Engineering family.