Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have charged the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to take decisive action against recurring infrastructure failures and the menace of quackery in the engineering profession. They made the call at the investiture of Ali Rabiu as the 35th President of the NSE, an event that drew top government officials, professional bodies, traditional rulers and industry stakeholders on Saturday in Abuja.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Charge
Jonathan, in his goodwill message, described Engineering as the backbone of modern civilisation, stating that Nigeria’s roads, bridges, power systems and digital networks were fundamental to economic growth and national stability. He stressed that no nation would achieve meaningful development without a strong, ethical and forward-looking engineering profession.
Represented by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Jonathan said: “Our major cities have increasingly become sites of disaster. Avoidable structural failures have led to devastating losses of life and properties. While we cannot always rule out natural disasters, we must recognise that professional negligence is often the root cause of these collapses. This reality poses a higher moral and regulatory responsibility on NSE and the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
You must transition to a system of rigorous compliance and effective response mechanism. In nations where regulations are sound and systems are efficient, even the impact of earthquakes is significantly mitigated. Your goal must be the total prevention of deaths through proactive oversight and unyielding standards.”
According to him, the elimination of quacks and the enforcement of these high standards are not just professional requirements, they are a sacred duty to safeguard lives and preserve public trust. He said: “It is within this context of the urgent need for institutional discipline that we celebrate today’s investiture.” Jonathan, therefore, urged Rabiu to lead the charge for a more resilient and accountable engineering system as the 35th president of NSE.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s Address
Also speaking, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reaffirmed the central role of engineering in national development, declaring that “without Engineers, there can be no infrastructure.” Akpabio, represented by Sen. Patrick Ndubueze, the Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District, commended the NSE for maintaining relative transparency and resisting political interference over the years; a feat he described as commendable in Nigeria’s challenging environment.
He also expressed concern over recent collapse of buildings, bridges and other critical infrastructure, calling on the NSE leadership to pay greater attention to safety, professional discipline and enforcement of standards. He assured the Society of the 10th National Assembly’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure quality and protecting lives.
Minister of Regional Development’s Remarks
In his remarks, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said that engineering remained a public trust, “because every infrastructure project contributes to national productivity, social stability and public safety. Engineers must therefore operate with integrity, accountability and a deep sense of responsibility placing sustainability, resilience and the common good at the core of professional practice.
These values also resonate strongly with Nigeria’s commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals relating to infrastructure, clean energy, climate action and sustainable cities.” Momoh reaffirmed his commitment to sustained collaboration with the Society in areas of regional planning, infrastructure delivery, climate-resilient development, innovation and capacity building.
Outgoing President Margaret Oguntala’s Reflection
Earlier, the outgoing President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala, described the investiture as a moment of continuity, renewal and hope. Reflecting on her tenure as the 34th and first female president of the society, she said the last two years were marked by collective effort aimed at strengthening professionalism, deepening capacity development, promoting inclusiveness and repositioning engineering as a key driver of national development.
Oguntala expressed satisfaction that the Society was being handed over stronger and better than it was met, attributing the achievements of her administration to teamwork, unity of purpose and the support of members and stakeholders. She congratulated Rabiu, expressing confidence in his experience and vision, and called on all engineers across divisions and branches to give him full loyalty and cooperation.
Acceptance and Commitment to Ethical Standards
In his response, the 35th NSE President, Engr. Ali Rabiu, pledged to uphold the highest ethical standards, strengthen regulation and reposition the NSE as a key partner in national development. Rabiu said his administration would prioritise professionalism, safety and institutional reforms to restore confidence in engineering practice.
He added: “As President, I am committed to leading this reset with focus and conviction, building an institution that sets engineering standards, drives innovation, and delivers measurable value to members. This is the spirit of the Rabiu Presidency Resetting the NSE for relevance, resilience, and national impact.”
Support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and “Buy Nigeria First” Policy
The 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, calling for the full enforcement of Engineering laws. Rabiu described the recently introduced “Buy Nigeria First” policy introduced through the Bureau of Public Procurement, as a transformative initiative capable of positioning Nigeria as a true giant of Africa if faithfully implemented. He said that it aligned squarely with the existing legal frameworks such as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Act 2018 (as amended) and Executive Order 5.
Addressing Breaches by MDAs and Infrastructure Ministries
Rabiu added, “However, it may shock Mr. President to know that MDAs, especially infrastructure-related Ministries such as the Federal Ministries of Works, Power, Water Resources, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, have largely observed these laws in the breach. Projects running into trillions of naira are being executed across Nigeria, both by the Federal Government and the state governments, without the involvement of Nigerian engineering professionals.
Mr President may also wish to be informed that MDAs are mandated to ensure that, before the award of any contract, Nigerian counterpart staff are engaged from the conception stage to the completion of the project. It is pertinent to also inform Mr. President that engineering training and practice is regulated by the COREN Act, and that the Council is under the supervision of the Minister responsible for Works. But the arrangement appears to have become an albatross.”
Concerns Over Professional Involvement in Public Projects
Rabiu explained that contrary to well-established global practice, contracts were awarded and executed without the clear involvement of competent engineering consultants. He said the practice of engaging external consultants to design, supervise, and provide independent professional opinions in public infrastructure delivery was globally accepted as best practice and Nigeria could not be different. Rabiu added, “At present, Ministries implement public projects as employers, designers, supervisors, and payers. This concentration of roles largely explains why many of our projects are delivered with poor quality and at high cost.”
Pleas to the Presidency for Immediate Action
He, therefore, pleaded with Tinubu to direct and compel the Ministers of Works, Power, Water Resources, and the Federal Capital Territory to, as a matter of urgency, implement the “Buy Nigeria First” policy. He also appealed that they should engage competent Nigerian consultants in the design, supervision, and certification of all projects costing over 500 million naira.
Rabiu argued that the “Buy Nigeria First” policy was already being implemented in other professions, citing the legal sector where external lawyers are engaged by the Ministry of Justice, and the accounting profession where MDAs are required to use external auditors for statutory audits. According to him, there is no justification for treating engineering—the backbone of infrastructure delivery—differently. “This is more than a policy; it is a professional obligation and a national opportunity. Let us engineers not sit back and observe. Let us rise, contribute, and ensure that Nigerian solutions, delivered by Nigerian engineers, shape the Nigerian future,” he urged.
The Five Strategic Pillars and 10-Year Blueprint
Rabiu said his administration would be guided by the NSE Strategic Document, a newly approved 10-year blueprint designed to reposition the society as a central force in Nigeria’s development. He also outlined five strategic pillars that would anchor his administration which included: Membership Development, Strategic Partnerships, International Relations, Community Impact, and Institutional Branding.
Education, TVET, and Technical College Upgrades
On education and skills development, the NSE President welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement on the upgrade and inauguration of 38 technical colleges, describing it as a bold step toward rebuilding Nigeria’s skills base. He said the initiative aligned with the NSE’s long-standing advocacy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a solution to skills gaps, youth unemployment and dependence on foreign technical labour.
Rabiu disclosed that the NSE is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to deepen the impact of the programme, saying that the Society had already mobilised its Young Engineers’ Forum to provide pro bono, curriculum-aligned support services around the new technical colleges. He added that formal engagement channels would be established with the Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and other stakeholders to ensure sustainability and measurable outcomes.
Professional Development and National Budgetary Input
Engr. Ali Rabiu also stressed the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), describing it as a non-negotiable element of engineering practice. He expressed concern over gaps in institutional capacity among Nigerian engineers and called for a structured, dynamic CPD framework that promotes lifelong learning, specialisation, innovation and digital competence. Rabiu announced plans to strengthen engineers’ involvement in national planning and budgeting through the establishment of an NSE National Budget Review Committee to provide technical input into annual budget proposals on infrastructure and technology-driven development.
Promoting Inclusivity and New Institutional Initiatives
Rabiu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusion through support for Women in Engineering Programmes in collaboration with the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), and the repositioning of the Young Engineers Forum of Nigeria (YEFoN) as a platform for leadership development and innovation. Other initiatives outlined included reforms to the NSE Fellowship process, establishment of an in-house NSE Printing Press, the launch of an annual National Construction Exhibition, and the creation of a dedicated Fellows’ Lounge at the NSE National Headquarters.
Rabiu said the initiatives reflected his administration’s resolve to strengthen the profession, improve standards and reposition Nigerian engineers as key drivers of national development. He commended the members of NSE, COREN, mentors, family and friends for supporting him to become the 35th president of NSE and promised to reset the society for national transformation.