By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria( COREN),Engr. Ali Rabiu, said enacting and adaptation of Nigerian Codes and Standards will ensure a robust Engineering Practice country .
Engr. Rabiu made the disclosure at the 30th Engineering Assembly in Abuja yesterday,with the theme “Domestication and Development of Codes, Standards and Regulations as a Panacea for Engineering Infrastructure Failures in Nigeria”.
He said the theme is apt, “ It will provide solutions to the incessant failure of Engineering facilities and infrastructure in Nigeria, particularly Building structures”.
He said this will also ameliorate the challenges and shape better opportunities for practitioners for an enhanced future in the lives and economy of Nigerians.
The president charged the engineers that “it is a must that we commit ourselves to ensuring engineering solutions to the myriad of developmental challenges bedevilling this Country and thus get celebrated and be so honoured”.
The Council’s president emphasized that, the assembly offers a unique platform to deliberate on the challenge of incessant engineering failures and their remedies.
“And to also reflect on the state of engineering and provide vibrant resolutions”.
This will help in repositioning engineering practice in Nigeria, and maximise the immense potentials that exist for the profession as an integral component in the sustainable socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Nation.
Similarly, Group Executive Chairman/ CEO SIFAX Group of Companies and the chairman of the Occassion, Dr.Taiwo Afolabi, in his opening remarks stated that, “Any organization, either the private sector or government that engages the services of an engineer or engineering company, want quality. “Therefore, the onus lies on the Nigerian Engineer to demonstrate competence and excellence that would give their clients comfort to engage them as opposed to or alongside the foreign construction companies and Engineers”.
Dr. Afolabi noted that,Nigerian Engineer must constantly improve on their capacity in order to be abreast of current reality and international standards that would empower them to deliver quality.
“This is the only way big-ticket projects can be given to the Nigerian Engineers”, he said
He said Nigeria engineers must adhere to the standards, encouraged and enforced by appropriate regulatory agencies while deterring sanctions must be applied whenever there is an infraction.
He added that, mentorship programmes must be initiated and sustained by COREN.
“Accomplished Engineers must be able to take young Engineers under their wings for mentorship”.
The Registrar of COREN Engr. Prof. Adisa Bello, said that, participants were drawn from all cadres of engineering: Engineers, Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians and Engineering Craftsmen.
“ We also have engineering trainers and students at all levels of tertiary institutions as well as employers of engineering practitioners and other stakeholders”.
He lamented that attendance at this Assembly is mandatory for all categories of engineering practitioners as crucial issues affecting the profession are addressed at this event. Engr. Bello said the Council seriously frowns at non-attendance by engineering practitioners.
The Registrar stated that the forum creates an avenue for the interaction between practitioners in government, private sector, industry and academia.
We believe strongly that this synergy is an important aspect of growth.
