Jimoh is both Nigerian and American and grew up in Nigeria before moving to the UK in 2012. Growing up he was surrounded by engineers and his parents were heavily involved in the construction industry, so he often spent afternoons visiting sites as a child.

Yet, what really attracted him to engineering was his curiosity for understanding how things work and his passion for building things. “As I became older and understood the need for sustainability, my interest in engineering grew and became more streamlined,” he told CIHT. "Staying true to my long-standing interest in engineering and utilizing support systems were my main methods to achieving that goal.”

However, unfortunately his passion was not enough. The major challenge he faced on the path to becoming an engineer was being a migrant. He required a visa to work and study in the UK, which automatically limited his opportunities and options. There was also a factor of unconscious bias and Jimoh found that his body language and intentions were sometimes misinterpreted because of stereotypes people attached him to.

Professionally, language was a barrier for Jimoh and although he grew up with English as his first language when he started work, he realised there was a vast difference in the contextualisation of words. 

Jimoh did not let these hurdles stop him and he was determined to overcome the challenges; “I put my head down, understood that there was a system in place, and learnt how to adapt. I took a somewhat optimistic approach by focusing on the positives and not the negatives.”. He took on training courses, further reading and joined societies to help push himself.

The hard work paid off and Jimoh enjoys being an engineering and love working on complex problems. He said “as a transport planner and road safety auditor, I get to ensure the safe and sustainable movement of people and goods, which improves the quality of life. I also enjoy working in a brilliant diverse team and interacting and learning from different cultures.

With the current skills shortage on the forefront of most engineers minds we asked Jimoh how he thinks the sector can encourage a more diverse workforce. A recent study by CIHT, Transportation Professional and T&RS consultancy found that three-quarters (74.4%) of respondents believe the skills shortage is by far the biggest challenge facing the work force in the next three years.

Jimoh believes the best tool for encouraging diversity in the workforce is education, educating people on the importance of diversity and inclusion  and ensuring educational opportunities are tailored and available to those from diverse backgrounds.

He went on to say, “it’s incredible how little the knowledge of the value of the transport sector and the transport professionals involved is, I generally have to explain what I do to people in detail before they get it.”

He suggested ensuring educational opportunities are tailored and available to people from diverse backgrounds will see a natural progression of those with diverse backgrounds joining the sector. “The goal is not only to have a representation of diverse backgrounds in the sector but to ensure that diverse individuals have the resources available to be competent in representation.”

Jimoh has also taken this issue into his own hands by becoming a STEM ambassador and joining the CIHT Council. He has been a STEM ambassador for over 3 years now and provides support and presentations to local educational institutions with the aim of promoting an interest in Engineering. Jimoh has also recently joined CIHT’s Emerging Professionals Network. 

He went on to say “I strongly encourage young professionals to get involved in the transport industry. It is often an industry that may be overlooked because it encompasses daily activities; still, the intricacies of making the transport networks and highways fit for purpose make the sector attractive.

“You would not only be able to develop yourself personally and professionally, but also have a hand in coming up with plans and innovations that help promote sustainability and mitigate risks surrounding traffic management, which boosts economic efficiencies. It’s also a great opportunity to learn from and work alongside some incredible and innovative minds.”

Jimoh has been a CIHT member for almost 6 years now. He joined after attending CIHT lecture on membership. He said “I can say that the benefits are way more than I expected initially. The CIHT has not only exposed me personally and professionally but also provided me with a sense of community and belonging in the industry.”

Jimoh’s story is encouraging for all budding engineers from any background and a change on attitude of decision makers in the sector will also help encourage the younger generation to consider a career in engineering. Jimoh believes “what needs to be considered more by leaders is the dynamic nature of the world and thus the industry at the moment”.