“Grooming The Next Generation Of Engineers Is Key To Nigeria’s Growth” – Otunba Gbenga Daniel Speaks At Kresta Laurel’s 35th Anniversary

Chairman of Kresta Laurel Limited and Ex-Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel, FNSE, FAEng, FIOD, has revealed that it is time to start working on ushering in the next generation of engineers in Nigeria as part of its efforts to guarantee sustainable national development. The current Senator representing Ogun East district recently revealed that the time couldn’t be more right to start building a successor generation.

Speaking at an interactive session set up by Kresta Laurel Limited as part of its 35th Anniversary celebration, Gbenga shared that the session, held at the company’s corporate headquarters in Maryland, Lagos, was organised to expose undergraduates to what Kresta Laurel has in store for those interested in becoming professional engineers.

In his speech directed at several engineering undergraduates from three tertiary institutions in Lagos State in attendance, he said the training approach is key to grooming the future Nigerian engineers who would keep driving innovation and growth in the sector for many years to come.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel urged the Federal Government to back local industries well enough to rival their foreign counterparts, because the foreign engineering companies are well supported and subsidised by their home nations.

According to him, the obvious lack of water and electricity must also be addressed once and for all, stressing that local manufacturers who are charged various taxes should not be forced to provide these basic amenities for themselves as well.

“The challenges local manufacturers face in Nigeria is that they provide practically all amenities for themselves, electricity, water, etc. Yet the companies are slammed with multiple taxes,” he said.

Otunba also hailed President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, which could go a long way towards increasing the confidence local entrepreneurs have in the country’s ability to make their businesses thrive.

The interactive training program, which was organized for engineering undergraduates of the University of Lagos, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and the Lagos State University on Thursday, further proves Kresta Laurel’s unrelenting commitment to narrowing the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry experience, while investing in the country’s engineering future.

As he presented the company’s landmark history and scorecards to the undergrads, Engr. Dideolu Falobi, FNSE, praised Kresta Laurel for maintaining its position as a pacesetter in Nigeria’s engineering sector.

He believes his company deserves a lot of credit for continuously investing in knowledge development, while also organising programmes that are geared towards nurturing young engineering talent and equipping them with practical skills required to thrive in the sector.

“For 35 years, Kresta Laurel has maintained its position as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s engineering sector by consistently investing in knowledge development. This initiative represents our dedication to nurturing young engineering talent and equipping them with practical skills needed to excel in the industry,” Falobi said.

The educative training programme featured sessions on the commendable history of Kresta Laurel Limited, presented by the Managing Director of the company, Engr. Dideolu Falobi, FNSE, while ex-Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State, Mr. Kehinde Sogunle, taught the students about all they should know about leadership.

In addition to that, Mr. Sunkanmi Adegorite, Executive Director of Sales, lectured the students on fire safety and prevention, while the company’s HSE Officer, Habib Lukman, broke down health, safety, and key environmental practices needed in the engineering industry.

After the session, some of the students praised its organisers for the key insights they gained into real-life engineering applications, applauding an experience that definitely prepares them for what the real world has in store.

“The program has offered invaluable insights into real-world engineering applications while connecting with industry professionals who provided mentorship and guidance on career development opportunities,” they said.

With Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel in charge, Kresta Laurel has upheld its applaudable standards of technical expertise and service delivery across different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

To celebrate 35 years in the game, Kresta Laurel Limited has been launching new products and establishing several initiatives throughout the year, further reaffirming the company’s position as an industry heavyweight committed to corporate social responsibility and sustainable growth.