During my penultimate and ante-penultimate years at the University of Nigeria circa 1974-76, one used to study in the nights within the Agbebi College of Engineering Library. After studying for about one and a half hours, one would observe a break for about ten minutes flipping through magazines in the library. The magazine of choice then was the Nigerian Engineer. With my level of engineering formation, I could best relate with the call-card advertisement section of the various editions of the magazines on display.
Therein I took notice of the firm named MEK-IND ASSOCIATES ( Consulting Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial & Agricultural Engineers). It had the most comprehensive scope of professional services on offer. There were also other professional engineering firms Finco Engineers, UNECON Associates, Yaroson & Partners etc whose scopes offerings were less broad line. I convinced my Project Work Partner, Emmanuel Chukwuneta, of the need for us to go to Lagos, in March 1975, to meet these firms and learn first hand from them what Consulting Engineers really do. As advertised on the magazine, most of them were located on Oil Mill Street, Lagos Island.
We thus went there, only to learn that virtually all of the firms had moved to Ilupeju district. On getting to the latter, we located Mek-Ind Associates office, and met Dr. Onafeko, the Agricultural Engineer. He informed us that the mechanical engineer partner in the firm , Dr. Shonubi, had travelled on a Nigerian Society of Engineers assignment as their General Secretary. Much later it turned out that Dr. Shonubi and I were two of the six engineers that served as both General Secretary/Secretary General and President of NSE.
The others were J. O. Oyeleye, G. O. Aiwerioba, A. O. Faluyi, H. A. Gumel. Dr. Onafeko then went on to respond to our enquiries on what consulting engineers do. It was from him we learnt that CEs profer advice to Clients on efficient utilization of scarce resources in an independent and unbiaised manner. While catching on the poetic effect of that definition of consulting engineering, one there and then resolved to take to a consulting career, and to meet the mech partner in MEK-IND, as soon as possible, for guidance. The meeting and guidance did not happen as desired.
However in the fullness of time one had the opportunity to meet Dr. Folasodun Adebisi Shonubi FNSE in December 1988, in Abeokuta, when at the NSE AGM in Abeokuta, he was contesting for 1st Vice President, and I was contesting for Secretary General. Both of us were successful. And so in January 1989 became members of the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers .
Meanwhile, one was promoting the sensitisation of various publics on the role of the engineers as valuers of assets. 1st VP Dr. Shonubi called me to the side, and informed me that the first job he did as a consultant was on asset valuation. He urged that I do not relent in the struggle to safeguard the engineers’ turf in valuation in Nigeria, and offered his assistance anytime it was needed. In this regard, up till the time NSE submitted a Minority Report in March 1989, on the Consultative Assembly on the Reform of Companies Act of 1968, our complaint had been that Sec. 137 of the draft Companies law did not recognize engineer as ‘valuer’ whereas Sec. 41(3) of Companies Decree 1968 being reformed recognized ‘Engineer,’ for the purpose of statements in prospectus for shares or debentures.
About the middle of 1990, Dr. Shonubi called me, and to my greatest delight informed me that Sec. 554 of the Companies & Allied Matters Decree No. 1 of 1990, the product of the Reform Assembly, still recognized ‘Engineer’ as expert for statements in prospectus. On further scrutiny of of C. A. M. Decree No. 1 of 1990 clause by clause, one discovered that Sec. 603 also recognized Engineer’s report , opinion or statement for bid under a takeover bid or director’s circular. Our strategy then had to change.
Dr. Shonubi suggested, and it was adopted that we now argue that since prospectus inviting people to subscribe for securities in a company, takeover bid, and director’s circular expect valuation reports or opinions from the engineers, that Sec. 137 dealing with payment other than in cash, should be amended to include engineer in the definition of ‘Valuer,’ in alignment with Sec. 554 and Sec. 603. We thus mounted the rooftop saying it loud ‘Engineer is Valuer.’
Fittingly, I had sauntered into the Council Chambers of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria in Alausa, Lagos State, sometime in 1992 and Dr. Shonubi was beaming with smiles telling me he has been looking forward to seeing me, to inform me that Sec. 137 of the Companies Law had been amended in favour of engineers. He then handed me a copy of C. A. M. (Amendment) Decree No. 46 of 1991. That was one of my happiest days.
In 1989, whenDr. Shonubi saw that I was interested in the economic sides of engineering, he made available to me a document titled “IMPORT SUPERVISION .” It was a presentation prepared by a Study Group within the Nigerian Society of Engineers which the Doctor spearheaded in 1984. The thrust of the paper was to draw attention of the government and the publics on the distinction between Preshipment Inspection, and Import Supervision.
Doctor began with explaining that import supervision is wider, and encompasses all pre-order procedures and assessments aimed at ensuring that practices established in our international trade relationships are consistent with national goals and objectives, including judicious application of foreign exchange earnings in the purchase of goods and services.
Dr. Shonubi then outlined the grounds on which the extant Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme was being criticized as mainly,
“Relative ineffectiveness, since from its inception in the late 1970s till December 1983, total net saving was consistently less than 6% of the FOB value of goods inspected, and of which savings on Non-Negotiable Reports of Findings contributed less than 0.4%.
Apart from the security implications of a foreign company (ies) maintaining a dossier on all goods entering Nigeria, entrusting the operation of the CISS to alien companies results in no lasting or residual benefit to Nigeria in terms of development of expertise or facilities located within our territory.”
In consideration of these and other grounds of vital national interest, he then advocated that the inspection function should be performed by Nigerians among whom engineers will normally be in the forefront, pleading that import supervision should be largely based in Nigeria rather than abroad. Dr. Shonubi thereupon presented in outline the main features of an alternative orientation geared to making import supervision an effective and integrated part of the economic development strategy, rather than principally a tool for the management of foreign exchange as was then being emphasized. He then stated the ideal objectives, outlined the relevant procedures, listed the resources required and benefits to accrue, and sketched a programme for the implementation of the new scheme.
The objectives included, judicious use of foreign currency earnings, control of quality and quantity of imported raw, semi-processed and finished goods, provision of effective tool in the implementation of a systematic policy on industrialization and technology development. Others are, development of high grade testing facilities and laboratories as a service to industry, and for promotion of high quality production for export; provision of advisory services, based on adequate and current data) to prospective importers particularly at price negotiation stages. There was also the benefit of the accumulation and efficient organisation of data on standards, prices and practices relating to international trade as an instrument for articulating appropriate initiatives and responses in our efforts to promote a reordering of the world economic relationships and arrangements, as well as setting our own national standards.
On the procedures, the eminent doctor proposed essential elements of the proposed scheme as, (i) Primary Approval, (ii) Pre-Shipment Inspection, (iii) Pre-Delivery Inspection, (iv) Payment.
The benefits from this new orientation of the country’s import supervision as highlighted by Dr. Shonubi included provision of detailed information on future foreign currency expenditure which can be used for scheduling purposes; taking a definitive first step towards freeing ourselves from apparent helplessness in the face of disadvantageous discriminatory pricing of our imports; establishing of a databank of great potential value to Nigeria and the whole West Africa sub-region in its dealings with industrialized nations, and acquisition and development of technology in the area of inspections and appraisals.
Other advantages he revealed could accrue are, expanding employment opportunities for Nigerians and promoting the realization of the objective of self-reliance; production to international standards for exports can be facilitated, with the necessary upgrading of test facilities and laboratories countrywide; and Nigerian companies could in fact eventually provide inspection services to other countries needing such.
In outlining the programme for implementation in three steps, Doctor issued the caveat that in the meantime, the existing CISS procedures may be continued in force for the next two years, with modifications to reflect the country’s aspirations. He then suggested the modifications viz – (i) Appoint three or four inspecting companies to cover all countries grouped into three or four zones; (ii) Ensure that Nigerians are enabled to operate in each zone to acquire further experience of international operations prior to assuming full control of the scheme based in Nigeria.
The presentation concluded with reminding the government that a basic issue of policy definition had been raised, and in the process of elucidation other questions of operational policy had arisen, some of which involve international relationships particularly the crucial issue of restoring 91 day credit as normal condition of trade. Doc however assured that his group was willing to contribute to further discussion of the basic proposition aimed at evolving practical solutions to the various implications of the policy direction advocated.
This advocacy had the partial success of the government moving from Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) monopolized by a foreign firm to the double barrel approach of Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports vide Decree No. 10 of 1996, and Pre-Shipment Inspection of Imports vide Decree No. 11 of 1996. Nigerian firms now participate in Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports, especially in the oil and gas sectors.
Over the years, response from the engineering community to the annual country/sub-country budgets had been subdued, partly because the committees expected to analyze and propose constructive commentaries, come up with their review reports belatedly. Thus, the leaderships of the Society of Engineers were hardly forthcoming with inputs or reactions to the country annual budgets. When anything was done it came rather too late in the day.
Then came Engr. Dr. Folasodun A. Shonubi FNSE, President & Chairman of Council, Nigerian Society of Engineers, 1st January, 1991. In those days, the President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, invariably read his Budget Speech mid-night of December 31st. To everyone’s surprise, Dr. Shonubi called a press conference on the “Technological Implications of the 1991 Budget, on 21st January, 1991.
This was a startler, and caused quite a stir in the engineering community, for the simple reason that President Shonubi prepared the text of the press conference all by himself.
He started by explaining that the focus on technology necessitated taking a longer time than is required for digesting financial and fiscal implication, to study the policy and programme of concrete achievements. The point was quickly made that although a budget is a financial interpretation of the policy/programme of achievement, it had over the years been treated in terms of expenditure rather than as physical achievement. The root cause of this problem he traced to the absence of perspective planning hitherto.
The President NSE then recalled that in November 1985, three months into the life of the administration then in power, NSE recommended in a memorandum to the government, the adoption of perspective planning covering 15 to 25 years, to which the 5- or 4- year development plans then in vogue would be keyed. Remarking that luckily in August 1988, the Ministry of Budget & Planning made public its intention to prepare a 15-20 years perspective plan for Nigeria, and published in January 1990, the first rolling plan 1990 – 1992, then rolled into 1991 – 1993, it was impossible to evaluate the published Rolling Plans owing to lack of a Perspective Plan, that ought to furnish the underlying structure in physical rather than fiscal terms, for progress control. He then expressed the appreciation of NSE for the progressive strides made in planning methodology and allied matters in 1990, citing the examples of the National Committee on the Industrial Master Plan, and the National Committee on Engineering Infrastructure. All these initiatives, he said, hinted to the budding of a culture of long-term planning, even as improved coordination of these attempts is obviously required.
The doctor then focused on the 1991 Budget proper, making the presentation of the breakdown of the Federal Programmes in the Rolling Plans (RPs) the point of departure, wherein an improvement in the 1991/93 RP was acknowledged over the case with the 1990/92 RP. This was because allocations to Ministries and Departments were shown, and that made comparison with budget figures easier.
Some interesting observations were then made. For example, he noted that in spite of the restructuring of the economy that was ongoing, the Public Sector contribution to the Plan was expected to be 67.2%compared with 65.3% for 1990/92. At the same time, philosophically, the decline in the Private Sector share of investment is contradictory to the spirit of the Structural Adjustment Program, then in force. The doctor further observed decline in the percentage distribution of allocations to MDAs in 1990/92 RP (a), and 1991/93 RP (b), as follows: Agriculture [28.279 % (a) to 21.84% (b)]; Education [4.343% ( a) to 3.97% (b)]; Mines/Power/Steel [5.645% (a) to 3.49% (b)]; Works & Housing [9.181% (a) to 6.52% (b)]; Science & Technology [1.029% (a) to 0.71% (b)]; and NERFUND that was supposed to be the economic reconstruction fund, [0.812% (a) to 0.57% (b)]. These are all real economy sectors. However, he observed increases in the service sectors over the same period. Dr. Shonubi then noted that for an industrializing nation, the envisaged decline in government investment in education; mines, power & steel; S&T; works & housing are puzzling when taken together with a decline in private sector share of investment, remarking that the increase to 4.56% (b) [from 2.328% (a)] for manufacturing industries was one of the few cheery features of the breakdown.
He then discussed the question of Industrial Takeoff, explaining that whilst the Industrial Masterplan was being worked on , an important input had been generated by the National Committee on Engineering Infrastructure (NCEI). Noting that the realization of the objective of self-reliance in efficient and economic production of technological goods, equipment and machinery requires that available facilities be comprehensively catalogued and be systematically upgraded, he emphasized that the reports of the seven sub-committees of the NCEI would richly repay study. It was revealed that from them it would be seen that substantial modifications to the allocations was desirable. He stressed particularly that the recommendations on the engineering accessories, mechanical engineering tools, scientific equipment and electronics require modest funding provisions (about N900 million), and should be accommodated in the Rolling Plan up to 1992. Thereafter, he urged that the reports on the Perspective Studies be published without delay, as they would be invaluable to the work of the National Committee on Industrial Masterplan, and without the perspective plan rational quantitative targets of performance are difficult to establish and the Rolling Plans will lose much of their usefulness.
On growth and development, the famous mechanical engineer harped that for growth through industrialization, the economy rests mainly on agriculture, manufacturing, and petroleum. Thus he added, the quest for increased value added and productivity must be accorded high priority for any meaningful development. Noting that the subject rolling plan (1991/93) envisaged an annual GDP growth rate of 4.8% to be contributed, inter Alia, by manufacturing (10%), agriculture (5%), merchandise export (3.8%), he repeated the admonishment that the budget and its performance should be expressed in quantitative
terms rather than in absolute Naira terms, as it had remained difficult to capture the trends of growth in the economy. Unfortunately, up till now, the country and sub-country annual budgets are still expressed in absolute Naira terms.
The President NSE then took on the issue of budget discipline, observing that during the implementation of the budget, about 50-60% of the budget items were not treated, while items not in the plan were considered. He urged that attempt should be made to adhere as much as possible to the budget, insisting that budget should be seen as how to achieve specific aims, and not how to spend money, and that capital projects once embarked upon should be concentrated on as planned till total completion to avoid unnecessary inflations, and variations.
Noting with dismay that no definite policy of incentives for local materials users and manufacturers, he rued that many investors will not invest into raw materials, if there are other ways of making fast money. Deregulation of banking, he observed, does not solve the problems of technological growth, as financial houses and traders were still making lots of fast money while technology was still suffering and generally perceived as non-paying business.
Some ameliorating policy instruments for industrial growth, in the budget were identified, like more funding for research and development, especially in the area of local raw materials development, greater involvement in the execution of the rolling plans, more funding for utilities, greater efforts towards non-oil exports.
He then mentioned that NSE was happy with the new policy on Utilities Tariffs Regulation which adopted the recommendations the Society made to the government in 1990, to the effect that four regulatory agencies, for water, energy, transportation and communications utilities be established. The government was then advised to follow this policy by appointing relevant experienced professionals, in engineering, regulatory policy, finance, and management related to each utility sub-sector.
In conclusion the eminent doctor acknowledged that the budget gave cause to some cheer by attempting to address some issues critical to the country’s development. He applauded the increasing openness and candour of disclosures, and the approach towards better partnership with the private sector, and advised that implementation of this unique balanced budget needs systematic and timely control measures to show up any variances within reaction time. Finally he asked that periodic reviews needed to be embodied in implementation.
Since the Import Supervision intervention in 1984, there has not been a voltage or pressure drop in the intellectual input and activism of Pa Shonubi in the Nigerian socio-economic developmental process.
Although in the politics of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Pa is right of centre, and I left of centre, we perfectly agree on techno-economic dialectic. On the latter, it can be said with high accuracy, that I am a good student of his techno-analytical school.
In 1989, one had the good fortune to serve in a committee Pa chaired, to perfect the definitions of “Practice of Engineering” and “Registered Engineer,” to be included in the ‘Interpretation’ clause of the “Engineers’ “ Act.
Between 2008 and 2009, Engr. Dr. Felix Atume FAEng and I had the privilege to serve under Pa’s Chairmanship in the Council Procedures Committee that produced and gave NSE rules for the conduct of the Society’s meetings at all levels. This Parliamentary Procedure that was based on Robert’s Rules of Order is also used in the Society as a training ground for members intending to participate in the National polity, due to its similarity to what is practiced at the National and State Assemblies.
At four scores and a half in years, Doctor’s intellect and mathematical mind are sharper than razor. At the beginning of each year Doctor Shonubi will like a weaverbird, craft directive principles that help to shape the policy directions and management practices of the Society for that year. He will follow up with physical attendance, and robust debate contributions on sundry policy issues in the Council. And woe betide any Presiding Officer that tends to run fowl of the Rules of Order, or the MemArt. Pa would settle for no less than total compliance, no matter how many points of order, information, or correction it will take to secure that. Worse still for the PO, were he or she to make a slip up on the periodic financial report; Pa’s full constructive and corrective tongue would be deployed, no matter whose ox is gored.
In consideration of these preceding citations I propose the toast of Engr. Dr. Folasodun Adebisi Shonubi Scientiae Baccalaureus(MechE) 1959 Philosophiae Doctor (Belfast) FAEng FIMechE FNSE MConsE, etc, Meticulous University Don, Eminent Consulting Engineer, Past General Secretary The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Past President The Great & Honourable The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Past President Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (President of Presidents), Former Chairman, Societe General Bank, etc @ 90.
Wishing him many happy returns of this day with all blessings and graces appropriate for the ninth floor !!! Amen.
HR Otis Anyaeji KSG FAEng
Obi Onowu II n’Okija
Secretary General NSE (1989 -91)
President NSE (2016-17)
President, West African Federation of Engineering Organizations (2017- 21)