Yar’Adua Celebrated At 76 For Pioneering Role In Engineering Innovations

The FCT/Nasarawa Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, has honoured Engr. Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua for his trailblazing contributions to Nigeria’s engineering landscape as he marked his 76th birthday.

The recognition came during the inaugural Engr Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua Public Lecture, held in Abuja, with the theme: “Artificial Intelligence as a Catalyst for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Productivity in the Digital Age.”

Renowned for his instrumental role in shaping Nigeria’s refining and oil and gas sector, Yar’Adua was praised for his technical brilliance, mentorship legacy, and commitment to local engineering development. Many of his mentees now head top technical institutions and multinational energy firms across the globe.

Chairman of the occasion and former Group Executive Director of Corporate Services at the NNPC, Alhaji Ibrahim Abbo, described Yar’Adua as a rare breed—an academic icon, engineer, and philanthropist who built both systems and people.

“He laid a solid foundation for the next generation of engineers. His efforts were not just technical—they were transformational. He changed attitudes toward Nigerian engineers. He promoted local content and rejected the blind preference for foreign contractors,” Abbo said.

Reflecting on the broader national context, Abbo lamented Nigeria’s leadership gap: “Our tragedy is our failure to pass the baton of leadership and development. We have lost touch with where we came from, where we are, and where we ought to go.”

Born in Katsina State, Engr. Yar’Adua began his career in 1977 as a project engineer and founding staff of the Kaduna Refinery.

He went on to lead several key initiatives within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), later becoming Group Executive Director and serving on the NNPC Board.

Speaking to students at the event, Yar’Adua urged future engineers to be diligent, curious, and upright.

“Respect your teachers. Ask questions. Don’t let them rest until you understand. That’s how you grow. Even during my studies in Europe, I would rush to meet my lecturers—despite the cold. Some didn’t like it, but I persisted,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of national unity and leadership beyond ethnic lines.

“God has blessed Nigeria with abundant resources. What we lack is the right leadership. We must rise above tribalism to build a prosperous, united nation,” he said.

Yar’Adua also advised young professionals to shun corruption and maintain integrity: “The industrial future of Nigeria is bright. The journey has only just begun, and we must do our part.”

Delivering the keynote address, Engr. Makama Baba Abdullahi highlighted the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that while AI could revolutionize productivity, it also poses risks in countries like Nigeria with limited digital readiness.

“If we don’t upskill and reskill our workforce, AI could increase unemployment. And if mishandled in education, AI may hinder critical thinking in students. We must be intentional in its deployment,” Abdullahi warned.

Joining the lecture via Zoom, former NNPC Group Managing Director, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, hailed Yar’Adua as a visionary and nation-builder.

“He created ladders for others to climb. His influence spans generations and cannot be overlooked in the story of engineering innovation in Nigeria,” Yakubu said.

He commended the NSChE FCT/Nasarawa Chapter for recognizing a man whose legacy continues to shape Nigeria’s economic and engineering growth.