Nigerian Engineers Take Centre Stage in National Development Under Renewed Hope Agenda
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has entered a new era with the inauguration of Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu as its 35th President, marking a pivotal moment for the profession amid President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the government’s push for a Buy Nigeria First policy. This shift signals a renewed determination to place Nigerian engineers at the heart of the country’s industrial and infrastructural transformation, a move widely seen as essential for sustainable national growth.
During his investiture, Engr. Rabiu made it clear that this transition is more than a routine change of leadership—it is a call to reclaim engineering as the backbone of Nigeria’s economic progress. He highlighted that the Renewed Hope agenda presents a rare opportunity to reposition engineering as a driver of industrialisation, job creation, and innovation. “No nation can build sustainably while sidelining its own professionals,” he asserted, underscoring the urgency of aligning engineering practice with national priorities and public policy.
Engr. Rabiu praised his predecessor, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, for restoring visibility and professionalism to the NSE, but stressed that the next phase must go further. Drawing on his experience as a former President of COREN, he expressed concern that the Society had drifted from its founding ideals and pledged to rebuild the NSE into a standards-driven, ideas-led institution capable of shaping policy and delivering tangible value to both members and the nation.
Central to his vision is robust support for the Buy Nigeria First policy, which he described as a historic opportunity to establish Nigeria as Africa’s infrastructure and industrial hub. While acknowledging the existence of supportive laws such as the COREN Act and Executive Order 5, Engr. Rabiu voiced frustration that many government projects still exclude Nigerian engineers, often resulting in poor-quality delivery and inflated costs. He called on President Tinubu to ensure that Nigerian engineering consultants are compulsorily engaged in the design, supervision, and certification of all major projects, warning that weak enforcement undermines both quality and value for money.
Engr. Rabiu also emphasised the need for engineering to receive the same institutional respect as law and accounting in national decision-making. He pointed out that while engineering training and practice are regulated by the COREN Act under the supervision of the Minister of Works, this arrangement has not always delivered the desired results, with the Ministry often failing to fulfil its responsibilities towards building a sustainable engineering sector.
Looking ahead, the new NSE President outlined plans to strengthen professional capacity, support technical and vocational education, and restore engineering’s influence in national planning and budgeting. He welcomed the Federal Government’s initiative to upgrade technical colleges nationwide, pledging the Society’s full support to develop skills, empower youth, and reduce reliance on foreign technical labour.
Engr. Rabiu called for unity among engineers, urging them to embrace a renewed sense of purpose and to deliver Nigerian solutions by Nigerian professionals for Nigeria’s future. For Africa’s tourism and infrastructure sectors, this reset in the engineering profession could unlock new opportunities for local content, innovation, and sustainable development—ensuring that the country’s growth is built on a foundation of homegrown expertise and leadership.
