07/06/2026
MEET OUR WEEK 2 MENTOR
@ The NIMechE Ilorin 4-Week HVAC&R Webinar & Mentorship Programme
Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Fatungase Akingbagbohun, FNSE, FNIMechE - The Past National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE)
*Trailblazer, Engineering Leader, Mentor, and Advocate for Innovation*
Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Fatungase Akingbagbohun, FNSE, FNIMechE, COREN, is one of Nigeria's most accomplished mechanical engineers, renowned for her outstanding contributions to engineering practice, professional development, STEM education, innovation advocacy, and leadership within the engineering profession. She is widely celebrated for becoming the first female National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), a historic achievement that broke a long-standing gender barrier and inspired a new generation of women in engineering.
Over the years, she has distinguished herself as an engineering professional, administrator, mentor, innovation champion, and advocate for youth development. Her career reflects a commitment to excellence, service, capacity building, and the advancement of engineering as a critical tool for national development.
*Educational and Professional Background*
Engr. Akingbagbohun began her academic journey in Mechanical Engineering at Yaba College of Technology, where she obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mechanical Engineering. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan and later obtained a Master's degree from the University of Lagos. Her academic accomplishments were further complemented by professional certifications in Health, Safety, and Environment, as well as an honorary doctorate in Engineering Development and National Growth.
A registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), she is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FNIMechE), and a member of several professional organizations both within and outside Nigeria. Her professional affiliations have included the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and other engineering and management bodies.
*Professional Career and Engineering Practice*
Beyond professional associations, Engr. Akingbagbohun has built an impressive career in engineering management and project administration. During her service with the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of Radlag Water Limited, a water production facility developed by the corporation. As the pioneer project manager and coordinator, she successfully supervised the planning, construction, commissioning, and operation of the facility, managing personnel, distributors, and technical operations across the South-West region of Nigeria.
Her leadership and dedication earned her several recognitions, including awards for outstanding performance and excellence in service delivery. She also served as consultant and supervisor on numerous engineering projects, demonstrating competence in project management, operations, and engineering administration.
*Leadership in the Nigerian Society of Engineers*
Engr. Akingbagbohun's leadership journey within the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is marked by innovation, strategic thinking, and transformational impact. In 2018, she emerged as the 13th Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, one of the most vibrant and influential branches of the Society.
Her tenure as Chairman (2018–2020) witnessed the introduction of several landmark programmes designed to strengthen engineering practice, promote innovation, and develop future leaders. Under her leadership, the branch implemented initiatives such as:
* Innovation and Creativity Fair.
* Coding Summer Camp for Children.
* Adigun Arewa Mentorship Programme.
* Engineering Resource Centre Development.
* E-Library Projects.
* Professional Development and Capacity Building Programmes.
* Student Scholarship and Mentorship Schemes.
* Skills Competitions for Secondary School Students.
These initiatives reflected her belief that engineering should not be confined to classrooms and industries alone but should actively engage young people, stimulate creativity, and contribute directly to societal development.
Her administration was particularly noted for promoting volunteerism, collaboration, mentorship, and institutional strengthening while creating opportunities for young engineers to acquire practical skills and professional exposure.
*Historic Emergence as First Female National Chairman of NIMechE*
In February 2022, Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Akingbagbohun was inaugurated as the 15th National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), becoming the first woman in the history of the institution to occupy the position.
Her emergence represented a significant milestone in the history of engineering leadership in Nigeria and symbolized the growing recognition of women's capabilities in engineering and technology. The achievement was celebrated across the engineering community as a major step toward greater inclusiveness and diversity in professional leadership.
As National Chairman, she focused on repositioning mechanical engineering as a strategic driver of industrialization, technological advancement, manufacturing development, and economic growth.
*Advocate for STEM Education*
One of Engr. Akingbagbohun's most enduring contributions has been her advocacy for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. She strongly believes that Nigeria's future prosperity depends on raising a generation of scientifically and technologically competent youths.
Throughout her leadership career, she promoted initiatives aimed at exposing children and young people to engineering concepts, coding, robotics, innovation, and problem-solving. The Coding Summer Camp for children, introduced during her tenure at NSE Ikeja Branch, remains one of the notable examples of her commitment to nurturing future innovators.
She has consistently advocated practical and hands-on learning approaches that encourage students to design, fabricate, experiment, and innovate rather than merely consume theoretical knowledge.
*Champion of Innovation and Creativity*
Engr. Akingbagbohun has repeatedly emphasized the importance of innovation as a catalyst for economic growth and national competitiveness. She believes that Nigeria possesses abundant engineering talent capable of producing indigenous technologies that can address local challenges.
To support this vision, she pioneered and promoted innovation fairs and exhibitions that provided platforms for inventors, students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to showcase locally developed technologies and engineering solutions.
She has consistently encouraged engineers to move beyond routine practice and embrace creativity, invention, patent development, product commercialization, and entrepreneurship. Her advocacy underscores the need for Nigeria to become a producer rather than merely a consumer of technology.
*Mentorship and Human Capacity Development*
Mentorship is a defining pillar of Engr. Akingbagbohun's professional philosophy. Throughout her career, she has invested significant time and effort in mentoring students, young engineers, and emerging leaders.
Through programmes such as the Adigun Arewa Mentorship Programme and various professional development initiatives, she has helped young professionals acquire technical competence, leadership skills, ethical values, and career guidance.
She firmly believes that sustainable professional growth requires intentional knowledge transfer between experienced professionals and younger generations. Consequently, she has consistently encouraged senior engineers to serve as mentors and role models within the profession.
Her mentorship efforts have empowered many young engineers to pursue leadership positions, professional certifications, entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven careers.
*Promoting Women in Engineering*
As a pioneering female engineering leader, Engr. Akingbagbohun has become an inspiration to women pursuing careers in science, engineering, and technology.
She has actively advocated increased participation of women in engineering practice, leadership, and decision-making positions. Through her involvement with APWEN and other professional bodies, she has championed initiatives aimed at encouraging girls and women to pursue STEM careers and overcome barriers to professional advancement.
Her career demonstrates that excellence, competence, perseverance, and continuous learning can enable women to attain the highest levels of professional leadership in traditionally male-dominated fields.
*Industry–Academia Collaboration*
A strong proponent of research commercialization, Engr. Akingbagbohun has consistently advocated closer collaboration between universities, research institutions, and industries.
Under her leadership, NIMechE promoted Industry–Academic Parley programmes designed to bridge the gap between research and manufacturing. She argued that many innovative ideas developed in Nigerian universities could achieve commercial success if stronger partnerships existed between researchers and industry practitioners.
Her efforts sought to create pathways through which research findings could be transformed into practical products, industrial solutions, and economic opportunities.
*Capacity Building and Professional Development*
Throughout her leadership positions, Engr. Akingbagbohun has emphasized continuous professional development as an essential requirement for engineering excellence.
She has repeatedly challenged engineers to build competence beyond academic qualifications, acquire emerging skills, embrace new technologies, and continuously update their knowledge to meet global standards.
Her advocacy for capacity building reflects her conviction that engineering competence is fundamental to solving Nigeria's social, economic, infrastructural, and technological challenges.
*Vision for National Development*
Engr. Akingbagbohun views engineering as a strategic instrument for national transformation. She has consistently called for engineers to play greater roles in policy formulation, infrastructure development, manufacturing, energy sustainability, environmental management, and economic planning.
According to her, engineers must actively participate in shaping public policies and providing technical leadership capable of driving industrialization and sustainable development.
Her public engagements have emphasized the importance of indigenous engineering solutions, local manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and innovation as pathways to economic self-reliance and national prosperity.
*Legacy and Impact*
The legacy of Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Fatungase Akingbagbohun is defined by visionary leadership, professional excellence, mentorship, innovation, and service.
Her accomplishments include:
* First Female National Chairman of NIMechE.
* Former Chairman, NSE Ikeja Branch.
* Champion of STEM education and youth empowerment.
* Promoter of innovation and indigenous technology development.
* Advocate for women in engineering and leadership.
* Mentor to young engineers and future leaders.
* Proponent of industry–academia collaboration.
* Advocate for capacity building and professional excellence.
Through her pioneering achievements and unwavering dedication to the engineering profession, Engr. Mrs. Funmilade Fatungase Akingbagbohun has established herself as one of the most influential female engineering leaders in Nigeria. Her work continues to inspire engineers, students, innovators, and professionals across the country and beyond, leaving a lasting imprint on the development of engineering practice, leadership, innovation, and STEM advancement in Nigeria.
