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Adefemi Kila
     Adefemi Kilaⓘ (born 14 December 1945) is a Nigerian politician and engineer who served in the Senate, representing Ekiti Central in April 2007 just after working for Julius Berger Nigerian Plc for 30 years as a civil engineer and as a technical manager (administration) for 18 years. He is currently a council member of Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON.[1] He is a devoted Christian of the Anglican church of Nigeria. BiographyHe attended the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now Cardiff University)[2] in 1970, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree (PhD in business administration) of Bradley University, Lacey, Washington, D.C., US, April 2002.[3] He started his engineering career with a firm of construction engineers – Andrew Scott[4] in 1974 and a firm of consulting engineers – LH. Dobbie and partners in 1975 before joining Julius Berger Nigeria Plc[5] in 1976 to 2007 and was promoted to the rank of a technical manager in 1986, a post he held for 18 years before retirement. He became a board member of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 1987. He is an executive council member of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE);[6] He represented NSE at the 2014 CONFAB. He later became the director, National Road Federation (NRF) and also an executive board of directors of International Road Federation (IRF), Washington, D.C., US, representing Nigerian Road Federation (NRF) and the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Nigerian-American Foundation, Miami, Florida, US. He was the president of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) http://www.foci.org.ng/about/,[7] (formerly Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors in Nigeria. (FOBACEC) May 1996 – 2001. He also became the vice-president of COREN (Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria http://www.coren.gov.ng/[8]). He was pioneer President General, Senior Staff Consultative Association of Nigeria (SESCAN) now Trade Union Congress (TUC).[9] He is currently a Council Member of Save Democracy Africa (SDA). Senate career Adefemi Kila was elected senator for Ekiti Central senatorial district and was an active member of key committees during which he made landmark achievements as the vice chairman of Senate Committee on Works; at this time he helped in facilitating the completion of Sango Ota bridge that was long abandoned; also the ita-awure efon iwaraja road hitherto has been abandoned for over 30 years. He was also involved in normalisation of many land disputes in the Federal Capital Territory during his tenure as a member of Senate Committee on Works. He also was chairman of the sub-committee for projects in the North-Central and South-West regions.[10] Senate appointments
Activities on the floor of the Senate
Recognition Award received while in the SenateSome of the awards earned in recognition of his contribution to national development while in the senate includes but are not limited to:
Professional activitiesOn the professional scene, Kila is a fellow of various institutions, including:
General work responsibilitiesKila started his Nigerian engineering career in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc[5] in 1976 at the Design Office, designing water-retaining structures, heavy foundations, principally for Apapa Wharf Extension and bridge works. In 1977, Kila was moved to the Lagos Inner Ring Road and was later posted to Marina Bridge, where he was in charge of the construction from the northern foreshore to the end of Apongbon, Lagos. However, at the end of the project he was promoted to full civil engineer. In 1979, he was moved to Carter Bridge and placed in charge of all precast units and the pedestrian bridge of the Carter Bridge. At the end of the project, he was promoted to senior engineer. In 1980–1982, Kila was in charge of sign bridges for the Inner Ring Road and was also in charge of some industrial buildings and roads within Lagos Municipality. At the successful completion of the projects, he was promoted to chief engineer. In continuation of his work in 1982, Kila was put in charge of construction of industrial buildings nationwide. Due to his performances on the job and coupled with his administrative ability, he was promoted to the post of technical manager (administration) in 1986. He was subsequently moved to the headquarters, taking full responsibility for general administration works, which includes among others, human resources development, training of staff, and corporate representation of the company at all levels of government, private sector, professional and international bodies. Trade union activitiesKila is a trade unionist and has led several successful trade union[9] negotiations during his career. He was the chairman of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.[5] Senior Staff Association for 7 years, 1979–1986. He later became the national president of Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, 1982–1990, and was in the forefront of the crusade for the implementation of the Federal Government's National Construction Policy. Kila was President-General, Senior Staff Consultative Association of Nigeria (SESCAN) (now Trade Union Congress (TUC),[9] 1985–1991). ManagementKila is an astute manager of men, money and materials, and has earned him several appointments such as:
ReligionSenator Kila is an active member of Anglican Church of Nigeria. He is a member of St. Matthew's Anglican Church Maitama, Abuja where he served as the chairman of the fund raising committee in building a church in Mabuchi. He was a member of Saint Paul's Church Ishagatedo Lagos and was a member of FOH39Ng a society in the church. His activities in the Church made the Bishop (ADEBIYI) gave him an award of excellence for his immense activities in the church. He is a member of Saint Mathews Church Maitama, Abuja where is performance also earned him an award of excellence. He is a member of Saint Paul's Church Efon Alaaye, where his long-term continuous immense activities rewarded him as the 'baba ijo' of the church- being his home town Church. ControversiesIn October 2008 he defended the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency in Benue State, blaming problems on poor funding.[18] In May 2008, he was among four senators on the screening committee who appeared to be delaying the assumption of office by the nominated chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri.[19] He later lost his seat in the senate at the court of appeal to Festus Olabode Ola in 2009 after previously winning the case at the Tribunal.[20] References
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