ENUGU TAKING CENTRE STAGE AT THE 2026 CSCE CONFERENCE
I had the honour of serving as a panellist at the International Session of the 2026 Conference of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) held in Quebec City, Canada.
The session brought together engineering professionals, academics, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from different parts of the world to exchange ideas on infrastructure development, sustainability, innovation, and the future of engineering practice.
During my presentation, I shared insights into the ongoing infrastructure transformation taking place in Enugu State under the visionary leadership of Governor Peter Mbah.
The audience was fascinated by the scale, speed, and strategic coordination of projects being simultaneously executed across multiple sectors. Many participants described the developments as a leadership wonder and expressed amazement at the deliberate integration of infrastructure, education, healthcare, technology, tourism, transportation, industrialisation, agriculture, and economic development into one coherent vision.
Particular attention was drawn to the State's investments in Smart Schools, Technical Colleges, Model Secondary Schools, and the extensive network of modern Primary Healthcare Centres being developed across the State. Participants were especially impressed by the Smart School initiative, which is redefining public education through the deployment of digital learning tools, smart classrooms, science laboratories, innovation centres, and technology-enabled teaching methods. They noted that the initiative represents a deliberate effort to prepare the engineers, scientists, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow today.
The State's ambitious water sector reforms also generated significant interest. I highlighted the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of water infrastructure aimed at restoring regular access to potable water to urban and rural communities, ending years of inadequate supply and improving public health, productivity, and quality of life.
The State's road infrastructure programme garnered significant recognition for its scale, strategic importance, and transformative impact. These investments are strengthening transportation networks, facilitating commercial and agricultural activities, reducing travel time, improving access to communities, and contributing to sustainable economic growth and an improved quality of life for residents.
Participants were equally impressed by the development of the Enugu International Hospital, a flagship healthcare project designed to position Enugu as a leading medical destination in Africa while reducing medical tourism and providing access to world-class healthcare services.
The completed International Conference Centre and the ongoing ICC Hotel project were highlighted as critical investments in conference tourism, hospitality, and business travel. Together with the revitalisation of Hotel Presidential, these projects are creating the supporting infrastructure necessary to attract international conferences, exhibitions, investors, and major global events to Enugu.
The ongoing restoration of the Aluminium Extrusion Industry at Ohebe Dim in Igbo Etiti was recognised as a strategic industrialisation initiative capable of reviving manufacturing and creating jobs. Participants were equally impressed by the State Government's deliberate efforts to reactivate long-dormant economic assets through innovative public-private partnerships. Particular attention was drawn to the ₦40 billion Sunrise Flour Mills revival project in Emene, the revitalisation of Enugu United Palm Products Limited (EUPPL), and the successful revival of Niger Gas. Together with ongoing plans to restore Niger Steel and other strategic industrial assets, these initiatives were viewed as clear evidence of a determined drive to restore Enugu's status as one of Nigeria's foremost industrial and commercial hubs.