Friday, October 27, 2023

2023 WINNER, A.F. OLUWOLE PRIZE – ENGR OLUFUNBI O. O.SODE


 Engineer Olufunbi Oludotun Olanrewaju SODE was born in Lagos on 16th July, 1955.  He attended Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, Remo between 1968 and 1973, and the University Tutorial College, London between 1976-1977.  Thereafter, he proceeded to the Polytechnic (now The University), Queensgate, Huddersfield where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Chemical Engineering in 1979, and also the University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire between 1979 and 1982.   He was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Powder Technology in 1981, and a degree of Master of Philosophy in the same speciality in 1985.  He is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Institution of Chemical. Engineers, Rugby, England, and the Nigerian Environmental Society.

 

Between July 1982 and June 1983, Engr Sode did his mandatory NYSC service at the NNPC Chiyoda, Kaduna and later at the Chemical Engineering Department of the Ahmadu Bello University,  Samaru, Zaria. There, he participated in developing the proposal for a cooperation program between that Department and the National Roots Crops Research Institute, Umuahia on Ginger Processing.

 

A Christian and married, Engr. Sode started his career in the Civil Service with the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission. Between 1984-1991 he served as HOD Mathematics and Technical Department within the Commission.  He was also involved in Curriculum development.

 

In 1991, he transferred his service to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, FEPA and was assigned the responsibility of the Head, Public Complaint Unit of the Agency.  As a result of his passion, commitment and dedication to duty, he was posted to the Port Harcourt Office of FEPA in 1993 until the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Environment in the year 2000. During this period, the Port Harcourt Office of FEPA was charged with the responsibility of overseeing both the South-South and South-East Zones from where he gained considerable knowledge and practical experience on the management, protection and regulation of the environment in general including the Oil and Gas sector.

 

In the year 2000, Engr. Sode was again deployed to the Federal Ministry of Environment Headquarters in Abuja to join hands with other staff in setting up the Oil & Gas Division of the Environmental Assessment department from which the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA was established. 

 

In 2007, Engr. Olufunbi Sode was again deployed to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at its creation. At inception, he was Head of the Extractive Industry Compliance Monitoring (EICM) Division of the Inspection & Enforcement Department and was instrumental to the development of several National Environmental Regulations.   He was at various times the Zonal Director of South-South and South-West respectively before his mandatory retirement as an accomplished Director, Regulator,  and a passionate environmentalist in 2015.   Engr. Sode was part of a Team involved in building capacity of upcoming staff of the Agency. 

 

Apart from his regular schedule of duties,  while in public service, Engr Sode was involved in several special activities.  These included serving as an EIA Panel Review Member for several developmental projects within Nigeria.   He also represented the Director General/CEO of NESREA as well as the Hon. Minister of Environment at different times at several fora during his service period.  Engr Sode monitored and supervised the Demonstration Waste Control Project in Erinfun and Ilokun Waste Control Plants up to Commissioning. Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (March – June 2012); conceptualized the project on Environmental Biotechnology for the Enhancement of Compost from Biodegradable Wastes Port Harcourt, Rivers State (July 2011 – Feb. 2012); and was involved in the Preparation of Standardized Guidelines for the   Administration of Oil Spill Compensation for NOSDRA, June-November, 2006.  He was a member of the Implementation Committee of the Olokola Deep-Seaport and Free Zone Development Study between October 2006 to 2007.

 

Some of the several training, conferences, and workshops attended by Engr Sode during his public service included:

 

·         Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava-based Farming System (Use of Herbicide), at the IITA, Ibadan in 2014, and that on Safe & Effective Use of Herbicides in Weed Control in 2015.

·         Executive Programme on Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies at Harvard Kennedy School, USA in 2014.

·         Global Inventory Project Workshop (GIP) Technical Review Workshop, Lagos, in 2012.

·         Training on the use of Global Positioning System Technology (GPS) organized by NESREA and facilitated by Divine Digital Resources held at Ibadan. 2012.

·         UNDP Training Workshop on Ozone depleting substances and the use of Gas Identifier, Lagos in 2010.

·         The 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, USA.September 2010.                                           

·         The Second IUTOX Risk Assessment School on Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Tinapa/Obudu, Cross River State, May, 2010

·         International Conference on E-waste Control, ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja. July, 2009.                                   

·          Environmental Management Capacity Building Program for the Nigerian Mining Sector, Abuja. Feb. 2009.

·         Environmental Compliance Boot Camp, Metropolitan Resort, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.

·         National Workshop on the Development of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining in Nigeria, Bukuru, Jos. July, 2008.

·         Conference on Remediation, Site Closure and Cost of Clean up, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America. Nov, 2004.

·         Risk-based Corrective Action Workshop Advanced Course (SPDC-organized Workshop), Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. February 2002.

 

Since retirement, Engr. Sode has been into active environmental consultancy and has at various times been appointed member of EIA Review Panel of several Proposed Projects across the Nation.  He is currently engaged as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of  FUNTEES Engineering & Environmental Services Limited.

 

Among four distinguished nominations that were received for the A.F. Oluwole Award this year, Engr Olufunbi O. O. Sode was selected not only for his diligent and patriotic services to the fatherland in the area of Environment-Health, but also for the quiet and selfless manner he carried them out - much like Prof Abiodun F. Oluwole, after whom the award is named.

 

We are honoured to have Engr O.O. Sode accept our humble recognition of his meritorious and inspiring services to Nigeria in particular and humanity in general, which is marked by a special Plaque.  We wish him long life and good health as he continues to serve God and humanity in the critical Environment-Health sector.

 

PS: The AF Oluwole Award Committee comprised of: Mr Adeleke Ajani (Chair), Dr Adeniyi Oginni, Sanitarian (Dr) Tope Akinwunmi, and Prof Joshua Ojo

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