By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The 45th Conference of Directors of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments from the Federal and States Ministries and Infrastructure took place in Abuja from May 5 to 7, 2025 made some critical resolutions aimed at charting a new course for Nigeria’s engineering Development.
The event themed, “Application of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Tools for Economic Growth and Sustainability,” which also had in attendance retired professionals and other key stakeholders provided a vital platform for discussions on engineering innovation, regulatory compliance, energy transition, as well as workforce development among the experts
Declaring the event open, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Olufunsho O. Adebiyi, commended the directors for their unwavering commitment to national infrastructure development and expressed his deep appreciation for the conference’s role in enhancing professional collaboration and generating policy-driven solutions.
Represented by the Director of Highways, Planning and Development, Engr David Yiltong, the PS emphasised the ministry’s commitment to supporting the implementation of resolutions reached, particularly those in alignment with national development goals, a statement signed by Mohammad A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry said.
The Conference Chairman and Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services (EMS), Engr. Bukar D. Mohammed praised the collaborative spirit among the delegates and urged them to align their contributions with the nation’s aspiration for a resilient, self-reliant, and technologically advanced engineering sector. He highlighted the importance of updating technical knowledge, building regulatory capacity, and integrating sustainable tools and practices into engineering operations across the country.
Delivering his goodwill message, aretired director of Engineering Management Services, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Felix Ebuzeome, moved that conferences be held outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to promote national inclusivity.
Engr Joshua Olurinola, another retired director of EMS, reminded them of their privileges and responsibilities as engineers and, specifically urged the department to collaborate with the Highways Department in deploying road signages across all federal roads.
Among the major technical highlights was a presentation by Bozimo E. Joseph, Federal Delegate and Higher Technical Officer (HTO), titled “Engineering Innovation, Workforce Development, and Professional Inclusion for Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Sustainability.”
The delegate advocated for the formal recognition of emerging engineering disciplines, such as Environmental Engineering and AI-integrated systems, which are currently unaccredited by COREN and excluded from the Civil Service career structure.
He proposed the establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion training workshops in the Ministry’s Technical Schools to support the national goal of converting over one million vehicles by 2027.
His presentation also called for reforms in curricula, modular training pathways, and digital certifications aligned with the industry’s needs and aspirations.
Engr. Itodo Emmanuel’s presentation reinforced the importance of regulatory compliance and safety standards in national development. Referencing the gaps in regulatory frameworks like the National Building Code, COREN’s Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM), and various safety codes.
Several other experts there also presented their goodwill messages, making development-targeted recommendations, after which the conference concluded with a unified call to action.
Among the recommendations adopted by the delegates for onward transmission to the council were: formal recognition of emerging engineering disciplines, adoption of standardised CNG conversion training across the ministry’s technical schools, and the establishment of pilot training centres for national scale-up.
The directors also proposed strengthened regulatory enforcement, expanded COREN accreditation, and institutional capacity building as essential levers for progress.