Abuja: The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has sought the collaboration of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in addressing the challenge of non-compliance with standards, which leads to engineering failures.
The COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, made the call at the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja.
The theme for the 2025 Assembly was “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses in Nigeria-Professional Compliance and Remuneration.”
According to Abubakar, the theme took hold, focusing on key issues of professionalism, compliance, and remuneration while delivering quality engineering services and supporting businesses.
He stated that COREN, as a regulatory body, had the mandate to regulate and control all aspects and ramifications of engineering education, training, and practice.
He explained that COREN’s call to action emphasised the importance of collaboration in ensuring that engineering projects are executed by established codes and standards.
He stated that Technical Committees (STCs) and Expatriate Monitoring Committees (EMCs) were established in 22 states, with corresponding inspectorates to oversee the monitoring and regulation of engineering practices.
“COREN is assiduously working to cover the 36 states and the FCT before the end of 2026.
“So, I call on captains of industries, state governments and the Minister of FCT, Nyesome Wike, to join hands with COREN technical committees in the states, expatriate monitoring committees and other sectoral regulators.
“This is to curb the dangerous trends of non-compliance with codes and standards, leading to engineering failures occurring in the various sectors.
The trends have caused loss of lives, properties, investments and loss of confidence in the engineering professionals,” he said.
Abubakar stated that achieving the target would enhance the quality of engineering services and businesses in Nigeria.
The COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie Uche, stated that the assembly serves as a platform that brings together a cross-section of Nigeria’s engineering community, both locally and internationally, for reflection, connection, and forward thinking.
According to Uche, the theme for the year’s assembly is urgent as it speaks directly to the core of quality engineering services that meet both local and global standards.
“It is also about professionalism that reflects ethical conduct, technical excellence, accountability, compliance with regulations, with a focus on public safety, enhancing confidence, and ensuring order in practice,” he said.
Uche said COREN recognised that ensuring quality and professionalism in engineering practice should not be separated from the business of engineering.
He, therefore, said it is the collective duty of engineers to confront these challenges of non-compliance, quackery and forced service delivery.
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Barth NNaji, Chief Executive of Geometric Power Group, urged engineers to forge a partnership with the government.
He said such a partnership would ensure that Nigeria not only keeps pace with global advances but also leads in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
“We live in an era marked by rapid technological evolution; robotics, renewable energy, innovative infrastructure, blockchain, and the Internet.
“The world is changing rapidly, and so must we. This calls for the Nigerian engineering community to embrace continuous learning, to be agile, and to lead the adoption of emerging technologies in ways that suit our local context.
“We must build Nigerian solutions to Nigerian problems with Nigerian hands and minds.”
Nnaji, therefore, called on engineers to move beyond routine practices and become strategic thinkers, interpreting global trends and local demands.
