By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Raising the standard of engineering practice in Nigeria to align with international best practices, reintroduction of engineering residency, and renumeration for residents and practitioners of the various engineering cadres will be on the front burner during the forthcoming 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly in Abuja.
President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, made this during a press briefing on the event, themed “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses” in his office in Abuja on Monday, calling on all stakeholders to be in attendance.
COREN Engineering Assembly is an annual event designed to provide a forum for practitioners and other stakeholders to evaluate matters of mutual interest relating to the engineering profession, discuss the dynamics in relationships between the different engineering cadres, operators, regulators among others with a view to coming up with resolutions that would propel the profession to greater height for the much desired national development.
According to Prof. Abubakar, this year’s Assembly which will have over 10,000 dignitaries, professionals, and other stakeholders from within and beyond the shores of Nigeria expected to be physically attending, has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour, the immediate past Vice President of the country, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as the Keynote Speaker, to be supported by 3 eminent personalities drawn from industry, government, academia, etc discussing the corresponding sub-themes.
The chairman of the occasion is the chairman, Geometric Power Group and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji. while the Minister of Works Engr David Umahi and his Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counter-part will be the Chief Host and the host at the occasion, respectively.
Highlighting key areas of focus during the 2025 Assembly, the COREN President said, “disclosed that NBTE and COREN were finalising modalities to commence accreditation of Technical Colleges in Nigeria this coming academic session.
Continuing, he said, “Gentlemen of the press, “In response to the goals of the current administration, the Council approved the resuscitation of Supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering (SITSIE) under a new name of Engineering Residency Programme (ERP) and planned to engage the National Assembly to seek legislative backing for its sustainable funding in line with the existing COREN law.”
This means that all graduates of engineering from Nigerian universities must serve as engineering residents (post graduate trainees) for one year in addition to the extant National Youth Service Corps one year mandatory service to the nation, making the duration for emerging as a full-fledged professional 7 years, since engineering programmes normally take 5 years to complete at the university.
The COREN boss however noted that negotiations were ongoing with relevant authorities, especially the National Assembly to ensure legislative backing for sustainable funding of the ERM, adding that the Council, with the support of relevant agencies, had constituted a task force on ERP which will be inaugurated on Wednesday 16th July during the Engineering Family Forum in the course of the Assembly.
Another issue he disclosed was the enforcement of renewal of practicing license for all the cadres of engineering practitioners on the attainment/earning of CPDU, which COREN had concluded arrangement with the professional bodies to commence the implementation.
Speaking further, Prof. Abubakar said, “Aligning with the current FGN administration renewed hope agenda, I am happy to report that COREN has commenced the implementation of the assessment, certification, registration and licensing of the Artisans involve in engineering practice across Nigeria.
“Additional register for the cadre of Engineering Artisans was created and already in use. The new NSQ levels 1-6 under the NSQF included in the Scheme of Services of Nigeria has given the required recognition and backing to the holders of the NSQ levels to progress in their cadre without any hitch.”
He said in a bid to ensure effective engagement down to the grassroots and promote sanity in the practice of engineering for a more positive impacts in Nigeria, the operations of COREN had been decentralised, with seven (7) regional offices established in Lagos, Enugu, P/Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, FCT, and Gombe, respectively are now functional.
He also mentioned that Committees on Codes & Standards and for EREM for the 11 different sectors of the nation’s economy in focus were inaugurated and carrying out their functions with the participation of the key sectoral regulators.
“Three RSCs in South-South, Lagos and South-East were inaugurated and are functioning. It is hoped that the remaining 4 would follow suit before end of 2025,” he added.
He also hinted on efforts being made to address the disturbing cases of building collapse and other infrastructure failures.
He said, “In response to the call on COREN to rise to the occasion to check the incessant failures of engineering infrastructure, specially building collapse across the country, specialised training and licensing of Engineering Infrastructure Failure and Forensic Investigators is commencing under the tripartite collaboration of COREN, NBRRI and CIFCFIN.
“Other similar training and certification are also underway for EP evaluators, PEI Examiners, ERM&E Inspectors, C&S Developers, Whistle blowers, etc.
Prof. Abubakar equally hinted that in line with the resolve to foster synergy and collaboration in regulation activities across the economic sectors, COREN had signed several MOUs with a number of regulators in different sectors.
“This allows COREN to expand its the regulatory activities to cover the sectors of Oil & Gas, Power, Mining, Communication, Construction, Maritime, Aviation& aerospace, Agro-Allied, Manufacturing and Transportation.This initiative seeks to achieve this goal of shared prosperity.
“To support these noble changes, COREN intend to submit to the legislature request for amendment of the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act No. 3, 2018. This will deepen the power for enforcement and enhance the ability of COREN to lead in this critical national assignment in a sustainable manner.
“The implementation of ERP, Admission quota, insurance of buildings, compensation to victims of infrastructure failure, punishment of persons found culpable, etc are key target areas.
He however made a passionate appeal to the federal government and the Industry to continue to support COREN in strategic areas to empower it discharge its mandate to Nigerians, urging the government reconsider its position and return the Council into funding regime for the benefit of the citizenry and the nation.