Politics
COREN 33 Assembly: Former Minister Urges FGN To Prioritise Support For Engineers In Nation-building
From Lateef Taiwo
Former Minister of Power Professor Barth Nnaji has stated that adequate support for the engineering profession in Nigeria by ensuring adequate funding and capacity building opportunities for practitioners to bring them up to speed with knowledge in modern innovations that would enhance their role in nation-building.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja as the chairman of the opening ceremony of the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly, Nnaji who is the founder and chairman of the indigenous power company, Geometric Power Limited (GPL) stressed the importance of engineers in driving inclusive growth and addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure and development challenges.
COREN as the regulatory body with the mandate to regulate and control the engineering education, training and practice of engineering in all its aspects and ramifications.
The theme for the 2025 Assembly is “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses in Nigeria-Professional Compliance and Remuneration.”
Prof Nnaji recommended the establishment of dedicated innovation funds, and technology parks where engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs can collaborate to build indigenous solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges by the federal government (FG).
He equally urged the federal government to enact and enforce forward-looking policies that promote innovation, incentivise research and development, and streamline regulatory processes to accelerate national development through engineering.
He said: “Establishing dedicated funds and technology parks where engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs collaborate will foster homegrown solutions.
“The government also has a vital role to play. It must enact and enforce clear, forward-looking policies that incentivise research and development, protect intellectual property, and streamline regulatory approvals.”
He called on the authorities to play their part by providing the enabling environment for engineering enterprises to thrive.
The professor also advocated a transparent public-private partnership (PPP) framework, which he said, is essential to leverage private sector expertise and financing in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.
“Government can tap into private engineering expertise and capital, accelerating delivery while ensuring accountability,” he added.
While highlighting the critical role engineers play in national development from constructing roads and power plants to designing digital infrastructure, he stressed the importance of adapting academic curricula to include digital literacy, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary learning.
“Engineers are nation builders. When given the opportunity, we create solutions that are essential for inclusive development,” he said, noting that technological innovation must be underpinned by ethical standards and professional competence”, he said.
Referencing China as an example Engr Nnaji said China which is the fastest growing economy in the world has engineers occupying most of her top government offices as decision custodians.
Engr Nnaji balanced his call by tasking his fellow professionals to reaffirm commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence in ethics and innovation.
“Let us mentor the next generation, sharing both our technical knowledge and our sense of civic responsibility. As we stand at the crossroads of possibility, let us chart a course guided by ingenuity collaboration and a shared vision of a prosperous, sustainable Nigeria.
Concluding his advice, Nnaji said, “To our government partners, I urge you to recognise that engineers are not merely service providers, but strategic allies in nation building, together we can harness technology rooted in our unique context to build resilient infrastructure, spur economic development and uplift every Nigerian community.”
Earlier in his welcome remarks, President and Chairman in Council of COREN, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, who expressed concern over the recurring engineering failures, especially housing collapse, across the country in recent times sought collaboration of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in addressing the challenge of non-compliance with standards, leading to engineering failures.
According to Abubakar, the theme of this year’s COREN Assembly is very apt, focusing on key issues of professionalism, compliance and remuneration while delivering quality engineering services and businesses.
“So, I call on captains of industry, state governments and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to join hands with COREN technical committees in the states, expatriate monitoring committees and other sectorial regulators.
This is to curb the dangerous trends of non-compliance with codes and standards leading to engineering failures occurring in the various sectors.
These trends have caused loss of lives, properties, investments and loss of confidence in the engineering profession,” he said.
The COREN President at the beginning of the event expressed on behalf of himself, his family and the entire COREN family expressed deep sorrow over the demise of immediate past president of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari announced a week’s mourning period for the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the event, since it had started before the sad news filtered in was allowed to hold low-keyed.
Declaring a one-minute silent for the repose of the soul of the Ex-President, Abubakar said the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly would have been postponed to mourn him if not for the fact that the programme commenced earlier.
On his part, COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie A. U. Uche expressed an unreserved gratitude to the dignitaries, professionals, and other invested guests who had come from far and near to grace the occasion, noting that it was a sign that they all wanted the best for the engineering profession in Nigeria.
“It speaks directly to the core of what we must continue to pursue: quality in engineering services that leads to local and global standard, professionalism that reflect ethical conduct, technical excellence and accountability, compliance with enhance competence that impacts the people socioeconomically,” he said.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Kwara State Artisan Congress has acknowledged the consistent support that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has extended to the body since 2019, saying he has been with them at all times.
The body said their members have repeatedly benefitted from the government’s social investment scheme, and such support accounted for how they secured their permanent secretariat, which is under construction.
In a remark at their meeting which the Governor briefly attended in Ilorin, Chairman of the Congress Alhaji Jimoh Adesina said the government has done a lot to improve the socio-economic lives of Kwarans, particularly the business community.
On the Governor’s entourage were the Commissioner for Works, Engr Abdulquawiy Olododo; Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salau; Special Adviser on Special Duties, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah; and Senior Special Assistant on Religion (Islam), Alhaji Ibrahim Danmegoro; among others.
Adeshina said they owed the purchase of the land for their Secretariat to the support from the Governor.
He requested a continual support of the government for the Congress, particularly in the area of employment opportunities and mobility aides, among other demands.
The Governor, for his part, said the administration will continue to prioritize the welfare of Kwarans, including their members through various social programmes.
He promised to look into their requests, including the completion of their Secretariat.
The Governor said the Artisans and other segments of the society will always benefit from the social programmes, saying he is committed to strengthening legitimate business and initiatives.
The meeting was also attended by BoT Chairman for Artisan Congress, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Idowu; Alangua Gaa-Akanbi, Alhaji Abdulyekeen Usman Akanbi; Lady Vice Chairman of the Association, Chief Mrs Atoyebi Olayinka; among other leaders of the community and the Association.
End
By: Dr. Umar Duhu
As I perused the article published on August 4, 2025, I was taken aback by the blatant fabrications and mischievous reporting designed to malign the character and reputation of Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON.
As a concerned citizen and a member of the APC, I feel compelled to set the record straight and correct the misleading narrative perpetuated by the article, which is nothing short of a calumny.
It is imperative to correct the misleading assertion that Vice President Kashim Shettima channeled resources to other states in the North East region during the 2023 elections. In reality, the APC emerged victorious in only Borno State in the North East, rendering the claim of resource allocation to other states in the region patently false. This error betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the electoral dynamics of the North East Region, which is a clear manifestation of ignorance of the pertinent facts.
The article’s claims of nepotism and marginalization are unfounded and lack concrete evidence. The accusations made by certain APC chieftains from the North East region are politically motivated and driven by personal interests, which is a classic case of mens rea. It is surprising that the authors of the article failed to provide any credible evidence to support their claims, relying instead on hearsay and unsubstantiated allegations, which is a clear breach of the principles of audi alteram partem.
A cursory examination of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Establishment Act of 2017 reveals that the Act does not mandate the rotation of the Managing Director and CEO position among the six North East states. In fact, Section 10 (1) and (2) of the NEDC Act provides that the Managing Director shall be appointed by the President and shall hold office for a term of four years, renewable for only one further term of four years. Therefore, the allegations of Shettima’s interference in the NEDC are baseless and demonstrate a clear misunderstanding of the Commission’s Governing Statutes, which is a manifest error.
Moreover, it is essential to correct the misleading narrative that Vice President Shettima is responsible for appointments. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not the Vice President, makes all appointments, as enshrined in Section 147 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). This fundamental fact has been conveniently ignored in the article, revealing a lack of understanding of the constitutional roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Vice President.
Contrary to the allegations of nepotism, the Office of the Vice President has a diverse team with appointments reflecting the federal character of Nigeria. In fact, several persons appointed in the Office of the Vice President are not from Borno State or the North East region. They are not even from the same faith with the Vice President. This demonstrates the commitment to inclusivity and diversity, and belies the claims of nepotism and favouritism, which are nothing short of a mere canard.
The article’s assertion that Vice President Shettima replaced other NEDC Commissioners and Appointees from across the region with individuals loyal to him is a gross exaggeration. The changes made to the NEDC leadership were done in accordance with established procedures and protocols, and were intended to enhance the Commission’s effectiveness and efficiency, which is a legitimate exercise of the powers conferred on the President by the NEDC Act.
It is apparent that the article’s authors are attempting to create a false narrative to support their own political agendas. The ADC party’s desperation to gain traction in the North East region is evident in this malicious report, which seeks to exploit ethnic and regional sentiments for political gain, a clear case of argumentum ad hominem.
I urge the public to disregard this baseless and mischievous article, as it is nothing but a desperate attempt to try to discredit the Vice President Kashim Shettima and create unnecessary tension within the APC. I also call on the authors of the article to retract their false claims and apologize for their malicious and defamatory statements, else, history will not be kind to them and their cohorts.
Umar D. Duhu, LLM, Ph.D.
galadimadluku@gmail.com
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended five of its members for three legislative sittings over their alleged tampering with a report concerning the activities of the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri.
The suspended lawmakers—Shimawua Terna, Mathew Damkor, Cephas Dyako, Moses Egbodo, and Isaac Echekliye—are all members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Recall that the committee, chaired by Terna Shimawua, had been tasked by the House to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation and abuse of office leveled against the Otukpo LG Chairman.
However, during the presentation of the committee’s report on the floor of the House, lawmakers observed discrepancies, as the report allegedly deviated from the committee’s actual findings.
Unsatisfied with the outcome, the House constituted a five-member ad-hoc committee led by Hon. Ipusu to conduct a fresh investigation and uncover the true situation.
Following the revelations, the House resolved to suspend the five committee members for allegedly covering up the misappropriation of funds, abuse of office, and the illegal closure of the Otukpo Legislative Chamber—actions believed to have shielded the chairman from accountability.
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