NSE President Advocates Alignment of African Engineering Education with Global Standards …Receives Award of Honour at 2025 OTC in Houston

Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has called for the alignment of African engineering education and practices with global standards, while fostering local talent through curriculum enhancement, faculty development, industry collaboration, accreditation, and innovation.

Speaking as a panelist at the African Content Collaboration Session of the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Wyndham Hotel (formerly Crowne Plaza), Houston, Texas, Engr. Oguntala emphasised the need to adapt international best practices to local contexts.

She stressed the importance of investing in modern infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and digital tools to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The session, themed “Local Content Development and Partnership for Africa’s Energy Sustainability,” brought together experts and stakeholders to explore sustainable approaches to local content and technological advancement in Africa’s energy sector.

In recognition of her leadership, vision, and contributions to engineering development across the continent, Engr. Oguntala was presented with an Award of Honour during the event.

The session concluded with a robust question-and-answer segment, where Engr. Oguntala and fellow panelists engaged participants on practical strategies for implementation and regional cooperation.

Her active participation at OTC 2025 underscored NSE’s pivotal role in shaping conversations around local content policy and engineering-driven development in Africa.

Earlier, on Sunday, May 4, 2025, Engr. Oguntala met with members of the NSE Houston Branch at a welcome dinner organised in her honour.

The event served to strengthen collaboration between the Society’s leadership and diaspora engineers.

In her welcome address, the Chairman of the NSE Houston Branch, Engr. Ngowari Diminas, expressed appreciation for the President’s efforts in engaging the global NSE community and reaffirmed the branch’s support for the current administration’s vision and mission.

In her response, Engr. Oguntala thanked the branch for its warm reception and recognised the critical role of diaspora engineers in promoting innovation, knowledge transfer, and investment in Nigeria.

She also provided updates on developments at NSE Headquarters and emphasised the Society’s commitment to positioning engineering at the forefront of national development.

The evening ended with a renewed call for professional excellence and deeper collaboration among NSE branches worldwide to drive engineering solutions for national and global challenges.