The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria recently unveiled new initiatives aimed at boosting the skills of its members and elevating engineering standards in the country to meet international benchmarks. In a recent capacity-building event held in Abuja, COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, highlighted the organization’s commitment to overseeing the engineering profession to protect public well-being. Emphasizing the importance of proper regulation and utilization of engineers in preventing infrastructure failures, Abubakar mentioned updates to the COREN Act and regulations to align with global best practices. He stressed the need for ongoing training for inspectors to ensure compliance.
Abubakar also emphasized the significance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to avert infrastructure mishaps, citing the underutilization of engineers in critical sectors as a contributing factor to regulatory gaps. COREN is collaborating with other regulatory bodies to enhance engineering oversight and adherence nationwide. The shift in focus towards regulatory enforcement and compliance, expanding efforts to 11 additional sectors, was highlighted by Kam-Selem Bukar, Chairman of the ERM&E Committee.
Bukar stressed the importance of coordination among various committees to achieve effective regulation, monitoring, and compliance, crucial for minimizing systemic infractions and preventing infrastructure failures. The event’s keynote speaker, Kasim Ali, represented by Ali Rabiu, Deputy President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, underscored the role of engineering regulation in safeguarding public welfare and enhancing standards across sectors.
Margaret Oguntala, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, commended the training program as a step towards continuous professional development. She advocated for the integration of Continuing Professional Development with license renewals to ensure engineers are abreast of emerging technologies.