Muftah Osuolale Takes Helm as TMEA’s Pioneer President
New association begins national drive to unite Muslim engineers and shape a profession grounded in competence, ethics and service
By Adebisi Yusuf
The Muslim Engineers Association (TMEA) has inaugurated its pioneer National Executive Council, marking a significant step in efforts to unite Muslim engineers across Nigeria and promote professional excellence, ethical leadership, mentorship and service to humanity through Islamic values.
The inauguration, held in Lagos, brought together senior engineers, academics, young professionals, students, industry leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders in the engineering profession.
The association’s journey dates back to 2018, when a group of Muslim engineers who were members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) began informal consultations over challenges faced by Muslim engineers within the profession. The consultations eventually led to the creation of a WhatsApp group to connect Muslim engineers, which later expanded beyond Lagos to members across Nigeria.
The association subsequently operated through an interim committee before a Shura committee was constituted to select a substantive leadership. The process culminated in the inauguration of the pioneer National Executive Council.
The newly inaugurated leadership is headed by Engineer Gbadegesin Muftau Osuolale , FNSE who assumes office as the pioneer national president of TMEA.
In his inaugural address, the president described the position as both an honour and a major responsibility, saying the foundation established by the association’s founding members must be strengthened with wisdom, competence and integrity.
He said TMEA would focus on promoting engineering professionalism, ethical leadership, mentorship, fellowship and service to society.
“Our faith and our profession were never made to play different roles. Engineering gives us the knowledge to solve problems, while Islam gives us the moral compass to use that knowledge responsibly,” he said.
He also announced plans to expand TMEA’s membership across Nigeria by reaching Muslim engineers in different parts of the country.
The president stressed that TMEA is a voluntary professional association and not an affiliate or rival of the Nigerian Society of Engineers or the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He explained that members of TMEA would continue to maintain their professional affiliations with existing engineering institutions.
He said the association’s objective is to create a wider platform where Muslim engineers can collaborate, develop professionally and practise their profession in accordance with Islamic ethical principles.
Engr. Marufudeen Bolanle Odetokun, FNSE, FNIEE keynote Lecture/ Guest Speaker, address at the event focused on engineering ethics, Islamic values and emerging technologies.
Engr. Marufudeen Bolanle Odetokun, FNSE FNIEE, Challenged engineers to recognise that their responsibility goes beyond technical competence, noting that members of the public place enormous trust in engineers whenever they use infrastructure, buildings, power systems, medical technology and digital platforms.
He identified competence, honesty, public safety, accountability and professional courage as essential qualities for responsible engineering practice.
He also examined the ethical challenges created by artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous systems, drones, smart-city infrastructure, digital twins, biotechnology, big-data analytics and cybersecurity.
He warned that technological capability must not replace human judgment and conscience.
He argued that engineers remain responsible for systems they design and deploy, even when those systems use artificial intelligence to make decisions.
“An algorithm can assist an engineer, but it cannot replace an engineer’s ethical responsibility,” he said.
Engr. Marufudeen Bolanle Odetokun, FNSE FNIEE, Further linked professional responsibility to Islamic concepts including amanah (trust), ihsan (excellence), justice and khalifah (stewardship), stressing that professional competence and ethical conduct should work together.
Engr. Marufudeen Bolanle Odetokun, FNSE FNIEE, urged TMEA to become a platform for mentorship, continuing professional development, ethical leadership, technical knowledge exchange, innovation and community service.
He also encouraged the association to support young engineers and promote the responsible use of technology in addressing Nigeria’s challenges in areas such as energy, housing, water, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure.
The event also featured the presentation of the citation of the pioneer national president, Engr Muftau Osuolale , FNSE, and inauguration of the following members into the National Executives Council: Deputy President: – Engr T K Ibrahim, Vice president: – Engr. Kamaru Adebisi, General Secretary, Engr Zaid Jagun, Treasurer: – Engr Al Ameen Ahmadu, Financial Secretary: – Engr Silifah Adeniran,
Publicity Secretary: Engr Ahmed Ayinla, Assistant Secretary: Engr Ademuyiwa Tijani, and the Welfare Secretary: Engr Opeloyeru Fatimah.
The citation, of the new President noted his academic and professional training, including a degree in Civil Engineering, a master’s degree in Construction Management and an advanced diploma in Project Management. It also highlighted his professional experience across public and private-sector engineering projects and his contributions to the Nigerian engineering profession industry leaders, students and other guests.
Speaking on the association’s future, the pioneer president said TMEA would prioritise mentorship and ensure that younger engineers receive guidance from experienced professionals.
He urged young engineers not to measure success only by employment but also by the development of their character, relationships, professional competence and ideas.
The president reaffirmed that TMEA is not a political organisation and said it would respect the political choices and democratic rights of its members while remaining focused on professional and ethical objectives.
He described the inauguration as a turning point rather than merely the beginning of an organisation, saying future generations of Muslim engineers would inherit whatever standards the pioneer leadership establishes.
The event ended with calls for unity, professionalism, ethical practice, mentorship and service to Nigeria, as the newly inaugurated Executives begin their work of building a national community of Muslim engineers committed to excellence and responsible engineering practice.
Engineering professionalism, ethical leadership, mentorship and service to humanity” remain at the heart of the association’s vision.
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