Additionally:
My name is Souleymane Siddo Diallo, I am Nigerien, and I have spent the last ten years working in Europe and Northen America. I received my Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2009 in Nigeria, and I worked with quantity surveying on construction sites in various fields for several years.
To me, cost estimation and monitoring are the key aspects of quantity surveying. One preliminary skill is to read and interpret construction drawings well. But to get a clear idea of total procurement costs, I have also had to conduct preliminary tests, like soil analysis. This was my experience under the construction of the bridge Pont de l'amitié Chine-Niger, a key development of the infrastructure of Niamey, capital of Niger, where I carried out geotechnical works from the beginning of the project to the finalization of the bridge. This was also central in my works for Sinohydro, who was appointed by nuclear power agency Areva (now Orano) to build infrastructure – a dam, an airport etc. – necessary to facilitate the construction of their Imouraren power plant.
To me, being out in the field speeds up learning about the issues one is tackling at the laboratory or in the office. I might have had more experience in construction than production, but my non-streamlined professional career has taught me to quickly build new skills. Wherever I go – in work life and in daily life – I am observant, because every little piece of information can come in handy for later problem-solving. My memory is sharp, and I utilize it to make efficient decision-making.
I went on to receive my MSc degree in Economic Calculation and Planning in 2014 in Niger, and was then employed to work for the government institution CAPED. This was an interdisciplinary team working with analysis of domestic issues. One of my main tasks was to develop training programs for people in the public sector to foster cross-ministerial development and economic sustainability. My own experience from industry and construction equipped me with a valuable perspective on people’s “less-than optimal” working conditions. I was drawn to continue working to assist and protect the interests of my nationals, and in 2015 I started working as a vice-consul, a diplomatic position, where I was sent on missions abroad to try settling issues.
I don’t want to drag out this application, but in short, diplomatic work is delicate and complex. Issues at hand might include discrimination experienced by Nigerien workers in multinational companies, malfunctioning public services as a function of the 2023 military coup in Niger, or even terrorism. Straightness and concentration must be balanced with careful consideration should one arrive at desirable outcomes. Please feel free to ask me more about this in a potential interview.
I believe my experiences in quantity surveying will be of great benefit to you in your industry Working for a state that is under military control has been tricky – work ethics is undermined, and genuine intentions go up in smoke. Few words can describe the power of my aspiration to find a place where I can dive into new challenges and bring about visible results.
