NASENI Research Director, Engr. Dr Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle, FNMGS, (right) receiving the Conferment Award plaque and Certificate from Prof. Akinade Sadrach Olatunji, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society(NMGS)(left) during the Awards Night which took place at the Chida International Hotels Abuja on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Engr. Dr. Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle, Research Director at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has been conferred with the prestigious Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS). The conferment marks a significant milestone in his career and underscores his impact on scientific and technological advancements in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), one of the oldest professional bodies in Nigeria, held its 60th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) from February 16 to 19, 2025, at Chida International Hotel, Abuja. The event culminated in an Awards Night where Dr. Olusunle, along with 42 other distinguished professionals, was honored with the society’s highest fellowship category.
Founded in 1961 as the Nigerian Mining Geological and Metallurgical Society (NMGMS) and officially inaugurated in 1962, the NMGS has a storied history of promoting excellence in mining, earth sciences, and metallurgy. The society succeeded NMGMS in 1977 and has since remained a key driver in the advancement and dissemination of geoscientific knowledge. The late Nigerian statesman and Pan-Africanist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was its first patron.
The NMGS serves as an international professional organization with objectives including the advancement of mining, geosciences, and metallurgy, as well as the publication of interdisciplinary research through its Journal of Mining and Geology (JMG) and other scholarly materials. The society also holds statutory representation on the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), established under Decree No. 40 of 1990.
Speaking on the significance of the award, Dr. Olusunle expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating: “I give God the glory and I am really humbled to be elected FELLOW of NMGS. It should be noted that the mandate of NASENI and the core concerns of NMGS are closely related. NASENI, under the leadership of EVC/CEO Khalil S. Halilu, actively engages in key national projects, including the CNG initiative of the Federal Government. One of its institutes, SOMMEDI, operates within the purview of solid minerals exploitation, further aligning our interests with NMGS.”
Dr. Olusunle’s illustrious career includes serving as the former Managing Director of the Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), Akure, a key NASENI Development Institute. In addition to his latest honor, he holds fellowships with esteemed professional bodies such as the Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN), the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), and the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS).
With this latest recognition, Dr. Olusunle solidifies his place among Nigeria’s top professionals in mining and engineering, further positioning NASENI as a key player in the nation’s technological and industrial development.
