ABRIDGED PROFILE OF ENGR. BENJAMIN OKWUDILI NWUDE, FNSME, FNSE, FNMGS, FAutoEI
Engr. Benjamin Okwudili Nwude is the Managing Director of Bendava Ventures Ltd- a consulting firm specialized in mineral exploration, water-well drilling, mining, environment, and project management. He was a visiting lecturer and external examiner at Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos and Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic respectively. He was also a consultant to National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency and a foundation engineer with ICECON NIG. LTD.
He was born on 29th July, 1954 in Awka. After receiving his early education at the L.A. School, Amikwo- Awka, National Grammar School, Nike-Enugu and Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, he joined the defunct Nigerian Steel Development Authority (NSDA) as Technical Assistant (Drilling) in 1974.
In 1977 Engineer Nwude proceeded to Moscow Mining Institute, Moscow, USSR, where he earned his Master of Science degree in Mining Construction Engineering with excellence in 1982. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in management studies from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma. Engineer Nwude also holds certificates in Modern Blasting Techniques, Project Management, and Total Quality Management and Strategic Planning. Engr. Nwude received a certificate in Windows Applications from Pan-African Computer Education Centre and a certificate in Office 2003 from NIIT. He is a Registered Engineer with COREN and COMEG.
Engineer Nwude undertook his NYSC programme in 1982/83 with the Federal School of Mine, Jos and thereafter returned National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna, where he served in various capacities and rose to the position of Acting Director (Engineering Services Department) before his retirement from government service in December, 2009. He also served as member of several ministerial committees and resource person to the Federal Civil Service Commission in the conduct of Directorate Level Promotion Exercise. He served as a member, Board of Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG). Engineer Nwude with great sense of dedication served the engineering community in various capacities including Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Society Engineers (NSE), Kaduna Branch, (1989-1990), Assistant Secretary of NSE, Kaduna Branch, (1991-1995), National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME), (1991-1996), Assistant Secretary- General of NSME, (1996- 2003), Auditor of NSME, (2003- 2007), 1St Vice President of NSME, (2007- 2011), Vice Chairman of NSME, Kaduna Zonal Chapter, (1993-1999), 2nd Vice Chairman of NMGS, Kaduna Chapter, (1993-1995), and Chairman of NSME, Kaduna Zonal Chapter, (1999- 2007). He attended many engineering conferences at home and abroad, and chaired and co-chaired several workshops, seminars and technical sessions at different engineering fora. Engr. Nwude was the 5th President of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (2011- 2015). He is a member of Board of Trustees and presently Chairman of League of Fellows of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME), Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) and Automotive Engineers Institute (AutoEI). Apart from being an engineer of repute, Engineer Nwude is a prolific writer. To his credit are several technical papers on topical issues and four authored/co-authored mining textbooks, titled “Introducing Shaft Sinking”, “Introducing Tunneling”, “Drilling and Blasting”, “Introducing coal mining”, “Mineral Exploration Core Drilling”, and “Water Borehole Drilling”. He was the pioneer Editor of “THE MINER”, a quarterly Newsletter of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers and “THE KADUNA ENGINEER”, a quarterly Newsletter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Kaduna Branch. He served as a supervisor of COREN’s Supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering (SITSIE) in Kaduna (1992- 1995) and a member of the Editorial Board of ‘Nigerian Mining Journal’ of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers – (1998- 2016).
He has received many awards which include: 2007 National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency Award winner for outstanding contributions to the growth of the Agency; 2005 Awka Development Union of Nigeria (Northern Zone) Award winner for contributions to the development of Awka, empowerment of her people and personal attainment in life; 2005 National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency Long Service Meritorious Award; 2010 Honorary Community Award by Umuokpu-Awka; 2009 Nigerian Selfless Service Gold Award by Our Majesty Global Publications; 2010 Legacy of True Leadership Award by African Leadership News Magazine; 2011 Century Continental Legacy Makers Award by Our Majesty Global Publications; 2012 Selfless Service to God and Humanity by Christopher’s Anglican Church, Kaduna; 2014 NMGS/MOSUNMOLA/Dr. E. A. Ifaturoti Award of Excellence for Mining Engineers in Africa; 2015 African Leader of Integrity Merit Award by Proven Integrity Communication Networks Ltd; 2016 Integrity Ambassador Award; 2016 Special Award of Honour by Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers; 2019 Meritorious service and exemplary contributions Award by Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, Kaduna Zonal Chapter; 2020 Merit Award of Excellence by the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, Kaduna Branch; 2024 Award of Excellence by Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers; and 2024 Presidential Award by Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers.
In spite of these, he is very humane and constantly underplays his own accomplishments. Perhaps one of Engineer Nwude’s best assets is his complete candour and associated credibility. He is happily married to Mrs Rubby Ngozi Nwude and blessed with children.