A professor of Metallurgical and Material Engineering and Member, University of Uyo Governing Council, Professor Linus Okon Asuquo, has been elected as Fellow of the highest engineering body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, FAEng.
The honour is an exclusive of accomplished experts and professionals in diverse engineering disciplines and related backgrounds.
A release by the Secretary and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Professor A. O. Denloye, indicated that the election of Professor Linus Asuquo was at the instance of the academy’s council meeting of April 11, 2018.
The Academy which was established in 1997 as a Think Tank for Engineering and Technology in Nigeria provides the platform for supporting the vision and efforts of all local engineering institutions and organisations in harnessing available resources to boost the practice of Engineering in Nigeria.
It has as key objectives the promotion of excellence in Nigeria, dispassionate analysis of domestic and international technical issues, provision of independent expert advice to the nation, amongst others.
Membership of the Academy spreads across all engineering disciplines and has within its ranks a total of 136 Fellows in Nigeria.
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Fellows of the Academy are selected from eminent Nigerian engineers, like Professor Linus Asuquo, imbued with the highest professional ethics, integrity and commitment to placing their enormous wealth of experience at the disposal of the nation.
A former Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Head of Department, former Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Uyo, Professor Charles Uko, stated further that the Fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering is an uncommon feat attained by only three Akwa Ibom born engineers.
Professor Linus Asuquo is the fourth Akwa Ibom citizen to attain the feat, he said.
He congratulated Professor Asuquo on the feat which he described as a great honour to the University of Uyo.
He noted that there were many Fellows of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, FNSE, but very few Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, FAEng.
Also speaking, Professor Aniedi Ette, a colleague of Professor Asuquo in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, former Dean and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) UNIUYO, noted that Professor Asuquo was highly qualified for election into the Fellowship of the highest Engineering body in Nigeria, having started the Ministry of Science and Technology in Akwa Ibom State as the first Special Adviser and Honorable Commissioner.
Professor Ette said that Professor Asuquo had paid his dues professionally to have been picked out of the Books of Engineering for the highest honour.
He concluded that for a recognition which had for many years remained an exclusive preserve for citizens of the three major tribes in Nigeria, Professor Asuquo remained a pride to Akwa Ibom State and an asset to the Engineering profession.
Critical stakeholders of the University of Uyo community could not hold their emotions on the election of Professor Linus Asuquo in the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
The President, University Alumni Association and Member, Governing Council, Professor Gabriel Umoh, opined that the election of Professor Linus Asuquo showed the stuff that the University of Uyo faculty was made of.
He described him as the latest gold fish to be spotted in the Engineering world and noted that the likes of Professor Linus Asuquo was the reason for the harvest of laurels by UNIUYO Engineering students at national and international competitions.
He called on well-meaning individuals, organisations to support the University of Uyo to impact positively on the nation.
Also, the Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Mfon Udoikpong, FNSE, described the election of Asuquo as a merited elevation in view of his professional standing as a foremost Engineering elite from Akwa Ibom.
Professor Linus Asuquo hails from Mbak Itam III in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
He is one of the architects of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, having served as the Co-coordinator, Engineering Programmes when the Faculty was nascent.
He has deeply contributed academically and administratively to the development of the Faculty ranging from the post of Co-ordinator, Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo.
