By ABAH ADAH, 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 various engineering cadres will be in the front burner at the forthcoming Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria’s, COREN, 33rd Engineering Assembly in Abuja.
President of COREN, Professor Sadiq Abubakar, who stated this during a press briefing with the theme: “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses” in Abuja on Monday, called 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 relationship between the different engineering cadres, operators, regulators among others with a view to come up with resolutions that would propel the profession to greater height.
According to Professor Abubakar, this year’s Assembly will have 10,000 dignitaries, professionals and other stakeholders from within and beyond the shores of Nigeria in attendance. President Bola Tinubu is the Special Guest of Honour, the immediate past Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is the keynote speaker and will be supported by three eminent personalities drawn from the 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, Professor Bartholomew Nnaji, while the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi and his Federal Capital Territory, FCT, counter-part, Nyesom Wike will be the chief host and the host, respectively.
Highlighting the areas of focus during the Assembly slated for July 15 to 17 in Abuja, the COREN president “disclosed that NBTE and COREN are finalising modalities to commence the accreditation of technical colleges this coming academic session.
“In response to the goals of the current administration, council approved the resuscitation of Supervised Industrial Training Scheme in Engineering, SITSIE, under a new name of Engineering Residency Programme, ERP, and plans 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 seven years, since engineering programmes normally take five years to complete at the university.
The COREN boss, however, noted that negotiations are 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, July16 during the Engineering Family Forum in the course of the Assembly.
Another issue, he disclosed was the enforcement of the renewal of practicing license for all cadres of engineering practitioners on the attainment/earning of CPDU, which COREN had concluded arrangements with the professional bodies to commence its implementation.
Speaking further, Professor Abubakar said “Aligning with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, I am happy to report that COREN has commenced the implementation of the assessment, certification, registration and licensing of artisans involved 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 NSQ levels to progress in their cadre without any hitch.”
He said in a bid to ensure effective engagement at the grassroots and promote sanity in the practice of engineering, the operations of COREN had been decentralised, with seven regional offices established in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, FCT and Gombe.
He also hinted on efforts to address the disturbing cases of building collapse and other infrastructural failure.
He said, “In response to the call on COREN to rise to the occasion to check the incessant failure of engineering infrastructure, specially building collapse across the country, specialised training and licensing of Engineering Infrastructure Failure and Forensic Investigators will commence under the tripartite collaboration of COREN, NBRRI and CIFCFIN.
“Similar trainings and certifications are underway for EP evaluators, PEI Examiners, ERM&E Inspectors, C&S Developers, Whistle blowers, etc.”
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 Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs, with a number of regulators in different sectors.
“This allows it to expand its regulatory activities to cover the oil and gas, power, mining, communication, construction, maritime, aviation and aerospace, agro-alied, manufacturing and transportation sectors. This initiative seeks to achieve this goal of shared prosperity.
“To support these noble changes, COREN intends to submit to the legislature, a request for the 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, appealed to the federal government and the industry to continue to support COREN in strategic areas to enable it discharge its mandate to Nigerians, urging government to reconsider its position and return the council to its funding regime for the benefit of the citizenry and nation.
