By ABAH ADAH
Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, hosted its Regional Engineering Stakeholders Summit in Kano, to deepen its reforms and align engineering practice in the North West with global standards.
According to a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Advancement and Public Relations Department of COREN, Mrs Ojonugwa Haruna, on Thursday, the landmark gathering brought together engineers, manufacturers, government officials, academics and regulators.
It added that the summit focused on addressing key sectoral challenges such as substandard materials, building collapse and the growing threat of quackery.
In his keynote address, the President of COREN, Engr Sadiq Abubakar, emphasised that the summit marked 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 potentials,” he stated.
The president highlighted some of the key reforms to include stronger regulation and enforcement to enhance Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement, ERM&E, crackdown on quackery by introducing new measures such as investigation panels and engineering disciplinary tribunals for offenders, collaboration with law enforcement and sector regulators, as well as sector-specific strategies and interventions for industries like manufacturing, agriculture and housing to ensure that engineering practices meet global standards.
Speaking at the summit, COREN’s Registrar, Professor O.A.U Uche, commended the North West Regional Steering Committee, RSC, and reaffirmed COREN’s vision to reposition engineering as the driver of national development, economic growth and technological innovation.
He explained that the council’s reforms are structured to decentralise operations through RSCs, strengthen Outcome-Based Engineering Education, OBE, enhance compliance via Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement and institutionalise the Engineering Residency Programme, ERP, to bridge the academia-industry gap.
Other measures include making Continuous Professional Development, CPD, compulsory, reinforcing disciplinary panels to uphold accountability and securing international recognition for Nigerian engineers through global accords.
Professor Uche stressed that COREN’s success depends on active collaboration with governments, academia, industry leaders, professional associations and the private sector.
“Regulation cannot be effective without active engagement and cooperation with stakeholders. Our strength lies in partnerships that drive sustainable engineering excellence,” he said.
He assured that the COREN Secretariat would continue to support Regional Steering Committees to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms.
In his welcome address, Chairman of North West RSC, Engr Habu Gumel, represented by Engr Ibrahim Maimaje, described the committee as a milestone in COREN’s decentralisation efforts.
“RSC is designed to strengthen regional governance and empower local institutions to ensure that COREN’s regulation is not just national, but practical at the grassroots level,” he said.
Also speaking, the governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr Marwan Ahmed, lauded the Council for its developmental strides, especially the current reforms.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to support the Council in the full realisation of its roadmap.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the North West Regional Steering Committee mandated to coordinate reforms at the state and zonal levels by enforcing compliance, supporting COREN’s roadmap and strengthening grassroots regulation.
The inauguration signals a new era for the engineering profession in the North West and across Nigeria, with COREN reaffirming its commitment to safeguard lives, inspire future engineers and align national practice with international best standards.
The event was attended by dignitaries including representatives of the governors of Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
Goodwill messages poured in from key stakeholders including Engr Tukur Tangali, Managing Director of Katsina State Water Board; Engr Yusuf Abdullahi Gumel, Director, Civil Works, Jigawa State Ministry of Works and Transportation; Professor Haruna Musa, Vice-Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano, represented, and Mr Zoang Ben, representative of Carlha/Cherry Nigeria Limited, among others.
The summit ended with Engr Olaolu Ogunduyile, steering the technical sessions and interactive engagements with policymakers and stakeholders, paving the way for a new era of engineering regulations in the North West and across Nigeria.
