By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has inaugurated North-West regional steering committee (RSC) mandated to coordinate reforms at state and zonal levels by enforcing compliance, supporting COREN’s roadmap, and strengthening grassroots regulation.
This was according to a statement signed and issued by COREN’s Head, Corporate Advancement and Public Relations Department , Ojonugwa Haruna (Mrs).
It said the Regional Engineering Stakeholders Summit was held in Kano recently.
The inauguration signals a new era for the engineering profession in the North-West and across Nigeria, with COREN reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives, inspiring future engineers, and aligning national practice with international best standards.
The summit focused on addressing key Sectoral challenges such as substandard materials, building collapses, and the growing threat of quackery.
Delivering his keynote address, the President of COREN, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar,emphasized that the summit marks a transition from dialogue to action.
“The North West is an economic powerhouse and its growth must rest on a foundation of safety, standards, and quality.
“This summit is about concrete action; establishing a framework that tackles engineering failures, strengthens oversight, and unlocks the region’s full industrial potential”.
The President also highlighted some Key reforms to include: Stronger regulation and enforcement to enhance the Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E), Crackdown on quackery by introducing new measures such as investigation panels and Engineering Disciplinary Tribunals for offenders.
Others are collaboration with law enforcement and sector regulators as well sector-specific strategies and interventions for industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and housing to ensure engineering practices meet global standards.
The Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, applauded the Council for its developmental strides especially the current reforms.
Yusuf represented by the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Marwan Ahmed, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the Council in the full realisation of its roadmap agenda.
Also, Speaking COREN Registrar, Engr. Prof. Okorie Austine Uche,
commended the North-West Regional Steering Committee (RSC).
He also reaffirmed COREN’s vision to reposition engineering as a driver of national development, economic growth, and technological innovation.
He explained that the Council’s reforms are structured to decentralize operations through RSCs, strengthen Outcome-Based Engineering Education (OBE), enhance compliance via Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E), and institutionalize the Engineering Residency Programme (ERP) to bridge the academia-industry gap among other measures.
