Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano
The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Professor Okorie Austine Uchegusi Uche, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the appointment of certified engineers to leadership positions in engineering-related agencies and parastatals.
Professor Uchegusi made the call while speaking at a dinner organized in his honour by a committee of friends to celebrate his recent appointment as the Registrar of COREN. He emphasized that such a move is critical to reversing the persistent infrastructural failures and addressing the general lack of professionalism observed in the execution of engineering projects across the country.
“It is imperative that we begin to match engineering responsibilities with the right expertise,” he stated. “Putting certified COREN engineers at the helm of engineering institutions is one major step towards solving the problems of dilapidated infrastructure, recurring project failures, and lack of technical competence.”
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The Registrar expressed deep concern over the increasing number of young Nigerian engineering graduates who, after receiving quality education funded by the government and their families, choose to work for engineering firms abroad due to limited opportunities and recognition at home.
“It is disheartening to see our young talents contributing to the development of other nations when their expertise is desperately needed here. If we, as a government, continue to deny them meaningful projects and opportunities, we are only pushing them further away,” he lamented.
Professor Uchegusi pledged to restore the dignity and integrity of the engineering profession in Nigeria under his leadership. He stressed that recurring engineering disasters—such as building collapses and frequent failures in the national grid—could be significantly reduced if certified professionals were assigned to appropriate roles within relevant agencies.
“As Registrar of this great Council, we are committed to doing everything within our capacity to bring back the lost glory of the profession. The challenges we face today are not insurmountable if we have the right people in the right positions,” he said.
The COREN boss also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening unity and collaboration within the engineering community. He assured members of the Council that his administration will intensify advocacy and engagement efforts to promote professionalism and ensure that qualified engineers are given their due recognition in both public and private sectors.
“We will not relent in reaching out to the Government to correct anomalies and encourage the inclusion of COREN-registered professionals in all engineering-related contracts. We have the expertise and capacity to deliver quality results, and it is time the system recognizes and leverages that potential,” he added.
COREN, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, is the statutory body responsible for regulating and controlling the training and practice of engineering in Nigeria. It oversees the accreditation of engineering programmes, registers professionals including engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, and artisans, and ensures compliance with industry standards.
Professor Uchegusi’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a series of infrastructural challenges, reinforcing the urgency of his appeal for a more strategic and professional approach to engineering governance in the country.
