History was again made on Thursday June 19, 2014, when the Council and Members of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering converged at the prestigious Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka for the induction of Engr. Otis Anyaeji as a Fellow, the highest Engineering honour in Nigeria, an event preceded by the inauguration of Engr. Prof R.I. Salawu, FNSE, FAS, FAEng as President of the Academy.
Engr. Anyaeji, widely acclaimed as Nigeria’s Doyen and Icon of Engineering, is a consummate and pragmatic manager of men and resources, a man with a heart of Gold.
His dedication, commitment and service to Engineering in particular and the technological advancement and economic prosperity of Nigeria are uncommon and inspiring.
Profile of Engr. Otis Oliver Tabugbo Anyaeji
Born in Onitsha, Nigeria, on 4th March, 1951, Engr. Otis Anyaeji obtained his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria in 1976.
Over the past 36 years, Engr. Anyaeji has worked in Industry, Government, and Consulting. He started his career as a pupil Mechanical Engineer in the Nigerian Railways Corporation, Lagos in August 1976.
Thereafter at the NNPC, he served as NNPC Site Representative on the first Petrochemical projects implemented in Nigeria viz Polypropylene, Carbon Black, & HF – Alkylation Plants Warri, where he supervised the implementation of the site preparation, civil works, and the commencement of erection works (1980 – 1984). While on these projects, he supervised a workforce of over 4500 personnel (comprising NNPC staff, consultants, and contractors on site).
He was the first Nigerian Chief Project Consultant on Ajaokuta Steel Project (US$6bn), 1993 – 1994.
From 2005, his firm O. T. OTIS ENGINEERING jointly with Lahmeyer International has been performing as Design & Management Consultants on the NIPP comprising 10 Power Stations, 110 Transmission Lines/Substations, 1230 Distribution Projects, 22 Metering Stations/Gas Transmission Lines, with Telecoms/Teleprotection Networking on 90 sites. He functions as Project Director in that JV and acts as Chairman of the Forum of Consultants & Contractors on the NIPP. Currently, as a consulting Engineer, he employs over 120 Engineers.
Following the takeover in 2012 by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) of Dr. Newton Jibunoh’s Trans-Sahara Highway’s Project, Engr. Anyaeji has conceived renewable energy (solar, wind, and supergrid) projects across the Sahara Desert. He is Programme Director, NSE-TAD (Taming African Deserts).
He authored the National Automotive Policy approved by the Federal Executive Council in 1993. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Founding Chairman of the National Automotive Council, leading the Council subsequently to obtain government approval of tariff differentials between imported CKD’s and FBU’s to be between 30% – 100%.
Engr. Anyaeji also founded the Institute of Appraisers & Cost Engineers (2003), and Automotive Engineers Institute (2006), both Divisions of the NSE. He served three terms as Secretary General (1989, 1990, 1991), and three terms as Vice President of the NSE (2011, 2012, 2013). Currently he is the Deputy President/President-Elect of NSE, and Vice President (Anglophone), West African Federation of Engineering Organisations.
His writings and advocacy resulted in Decree No. 46 of 1991 which amended Decree No. 1 of 1990 (CAMA) to give the Engineering profession a seat on the CAC (Section 2), and include “Engineer” in the definition of “Valuer” (Section 137).
Engr. Anyaeji is a recipient of numerous merit awards, including the NSE Golden Jubilee Distinguished Merit award. He is a Fellow of the NSE; a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers; a Fellow in Valuation, a Fellow of the Automotive Engineers Institute, a Fellow in Cost Engineering, and a Fellow of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria. On 6th March 2014, Engr. Anyaeji was elected a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
Receiving NAE Fellowship Certificate
Engr. Anyaeji is happily married to Nkechi (Nee) Chukwuemeka, an Administrator per excellence. Both are blessed with four children – two Engineers, an Economist, and a Business Administration undergraduate.
