Eng. Bashir Mohamed Obeid A Life Dedicated to Environment, Technical Education, and People with Special Needs
* A Journey That United Environmental Protection, Technical Skills Development, and Humanitarian Service
By: Eng. Abdelrahman Mohamed Zain (Magdi)
This week, Sudan lost one of its distinguished sons, Eng. Bashir Mohamed Obeid, a chemical engineer, environmental advocate, educator, trainer, and journalist whose life was devoted to serving his community and country.
Throughout his career, Eng. Bashir combined professional excellence with social responsibility. Whether working in industry, advocating for environmental protection, supporting technical education, or writing about vulnerable groups in society, he consistently demonstrated integrity, compassion, and commitment to public service.
Standing for Environmental Justice in Wawsi
For many years, residents of Wawsi and the surrounding rural areas north of Khartoum experienced environmental concerns associated with emissions from the Al-Jaili Refinery. These concerns affected public health, agriculture, and livestock production.
Drawing upon his expertise as a chemical engineer, Eng. Bashir was among the first professionals to raise awareness of the issue. He authored technical reports and newspaper articles highlighting the environmental challenges and advocating for practical solutions.
Together with local community leaders and residents, he helped establish the Wawsi Environmental Protection Association, creating an organized platform for communication with regulatory authorities and environmental agencies.
The Association submitted a formal complaint to the Higher Council for Environment, which subsequently commissioned a technical team from the University of Khartoum to conduct field investigations and environmental measurements. The findings confirmed the need for corrective action.
Following consultations involving the Ministry of Energy and the refinery management, an emissions treatment unit (SUSU) was imported and installed, resulting in significant environmental improvements for the surrounding communities.
What made this achievement particularly remarkable was that Eng. Bashir was employed at the refinery (KPC) during that period. Nevertheless, he chose to place the health and well-being of his community above personal interests, demonstrating exceptional professional ethics and courage.
Championing Technical and Vocational Education
Beyond his environmental work, Eng. Bashir played a significant role in advancing technical and vocational education in Sudan.
Through collaboration with the internationally accredited SAPTE Professional Training Center (City & Guilds Approved Centre 806117), he served as a Skill Gap Assessor and contributed to internal and external quality assurance activities designed to maintain international training standards.
Working closely with Eng. Ahmed Khojali, City & Guilds Sudan Director, he contributed to the development of competency-based education programs that strengthened workforce capabilities across the country.
Among the most notable achievements associated with these efforts were:
Supporting the qualification and certification of more than 8,500 technicians and engineers through internationally recognized competency-based training programs.
Assisting in the establishment of cooperation agreements linking City & Guilds curricula with educational initiatives in River Nile State, Kordofan, and Khartoum State.
Promoting alignment between technical education outcomes and labor market requirements.
His contribution helped create opportunities for thousands of young Sudanese professionals seeking internationally recognized skills and qualifications.
A Voice for Education and Inclusion
Eng. Bashir was also a respected writer and columnist for Sudan Vision newspaper, now known as The Citizen.
His articles frequently addressed technical education, vocational training, workforce development, and social inclusion. He was particularly passionate about advocating for people with disabilities, especially individuals who are deaf and those living with autism.
Rather than portraying them as recipients of sympathy, he emphasized their abilities, potential, and right to quality vocational training. He visited schools for the deaf, engaged directly with students and educators, and used his writing to promote awareness, dignity, and equal opportunities.
His work reflected a deep belief that education and skills development are powerful tools for empowerment and independence.
An Unfinished Dream
Before the outbreak of war in Sudan, Eng. Bashir embarked on what would become his final major community project: establishing a vocational training center in Wawsi inspired by the successful Don Bosco technical education model.
The initiative was being developed in collaboration with Khalifa Al-Atta, the Khalifa of Wawsi, Mr. Alberto of the Technical Training Center in the Kober Industrial Area, and several local supporters and professionals.
Their vision was to provide practical vocational training that would equip young people with employable skills and create sustainable opportunities for future generations.
Unfortunately, the combined impact of war and illness prevented the project from reaching completion. Yet the vision remains as part of his enduring legacy and may one day inspire others to continue the work he began.
A Legacy That Endures
Eng. Bashir Mohamed Obeid was far more than a chemical engineer.
He was an environmental advocate who helped improve the quality of life in his community.
He was an educator who contributed to the development of thousands of technicians and engineers.
He was a writer who championed the rights of people with disabilities.
He was a community leader whose dreams extended beyond his own lifetime.
Although he has departed this world, his contributions continue to live on through the people he trained, the communities he served, and the causes he championed.
May Allah forgive him, grant him mercy, and reward him abundantly for the knowledge, service, and kindness he shared throughout his life.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”
About the author:
Eng. Abdelrahman Mohamed Zain (Magdi)
Industrial Refrigeration & VAM Chillers Expert
HSE Editor – The Citizen Newsletter
mr.zainrac@gmail.com