ASHENEWS reports that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Minna Branch has donated food items and toiletries to inmates at the Minna Medium Correctional Center, the Home for the Less Privileged in Minna as well as the Government Orphanage in the state capital.
Items donated included rice, garri, noodles, biscuits, soaps and mats.
The NSE also announced plans to provide health insurance to five orphans as part of activities to mark this year’s World Engineering Day.
Speaking on Monday on the sideline of the visitations, the Chairman of the NSE Minna Branch, Engr Dr. Mohammed Yerima stated that the gesture was aimed at having an impact on the community.
“We have gone through to the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Home for the Less Privileged and we are here at the Orphanage Holme so they will feel carried along as we celebrate this day.
“It’s a thing of great pleasure to us to make an impact. We brought some items and we also enlisted some of the orphans to get free healthcare. We want them to feel the impact of the larger society and enjoy some of the benefits that there are,” he said.
The NSE Chairman noted that World Engineering Day is marked globally to celebrate and recognize as well as honor engineers for their remarkable achievements all over the world.
“Engineers are saddled with the responsibility of designing, supervising, and building sustainable infrastructure all over the world.
“Within our domain back here in Niger State, we have a lot of infrastructural projects going on and as you know, engineering is synonymous with development so it is these members that play a pivotal role in the development of the state.”
Yerima while encouraging the inmates at the correctional center to be optimistic despite their challenges advised them to seek opportunities to improve themselves while serving their sentences.
On his part, the Deputy Controller of Correctional Service in charge of Medium Security Correctional Center, Minna, Yusuf Hamisu appreciated the NSE for their support, stressing that it will go a long way in helping the inmates.
“We appreciate their coming, we see their efforts and we pray that other agencies can come and assist us here. They have seen what is going on inside.
“People should continue to patronize us. It is only when they come closer that they can understand how people are feeling inside.
“We are tackling the water problem and NSE promised to assist us.”
Similarly, the Chairman of, the Association of Physically Challenged Persons, Usman Mohammed expressed deep appreciation to the NSE for its support.
“We are delighted for this gesture. Indeed, there are good people everywhere. We are happy that you thought of Alh’s when you wanted to assist, we pray that God rewards you abundantly for this.”
He further appealed to the association to come in to help the residents of the area who are facing acute water shortage.
“We are facing water shortage. Those who are physically fit and are struggling with this issue talk less of us who have a disability. We therefore beg you to help us repair the pumping machine which has been faulty for a long time to ease our sufferings,” he said.
This online platform reports that the World Engineering Day 2024-themed “Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable World” was first proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference on November 25, 2019.
The Day observed on March 4 seeks to celebrate all engineers globally and also raise awareness of their value to society.
