By Gbolahan Salman
The Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Sokoto State Governor, Col. Ahmed Abdul Usman (retd.), has received a Platinum Award from the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) in recognition of his contributions to national development, particularly in security and the application of technology.
The award was presented at the association’s 42nd Conference of Technologists in Engineering and Annual General Meeting held from November 11 to 13, 2026, at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference, which attracted professionals, policymakers and stakeholders in engineering and technology, was themed, “Safety, Regulation and Enforcement in Engineering: A Panacea for Industrial and Technological Growth in Nigeria.”
Speaking after receiving the award, Usman expressed appreciation to NATE for recognising his contributions, describing the honour as both a privilege and a call to greater service.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by this recognition and grateful to the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering for finding me worthy of this prestigious award.
“I see this honour not only as an appreciation of my modest contributions to national development but also as a renewed call to greater service.”
The retired military officer stressed that technology had become indispensable in addressing contemporary security challenges, noting that security agencies must embrace innovation and collaborate with engineering professionals to develop effective solutions.
“Technology has become an indispensable tool in modern security operations. We must continually explore innovative ways of deploying technology to strengthen our security architecture and respond effectively to emerging threats,” he said.
Usman called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, engineers, technologists and other relevant stakeholders to harness technological innovations for national development.
He also emphasised the need for strict adherence to safety standards, effective regulation and enforcement in engineering practice. According to him, technological advancement can only produce meaningful results when supported by professionalism, accountability and compliance with established standards.
“Nigeria must increasingly harness the expertise and ingenuity of its indigenous engineers and technologists to develop home-grown solutions to our security, industrial and developmental challenges,” he added.
He described the conference theme as timely, saying safety, regulation and enforcement remained critical to achieving sustainable industrial and technological growth. The governor’s security adviser further said the recognition would motivate him to intensify efforts towards promoting the application of technology in strengthening security and advancing national development.
The award is another recognition of Usman’s contributions to security administration and efforts to strengthen the security architecture of Sokoto State.
