‘How engineers can help Nigeria out of recession’

Moved by the urgent need to get Nigeria out of recession, experts have urged engineers to rise up as innovators to provide products and services which offer something different from the norm.

The call, they said became necessary because of the multifaceted role of the engineering profession towards engendering quick recovery from economic recession by stimulating growths and development of the country.

Leading the call at a public lecture and induction of new members organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Victoria Island Branch, the Managing Director of Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Charles Odita, said engineers should play the expected role of a problem solver through initiatives that are geared towards cost reduction in conceptualisation and design through to completion process in manufacturing.

The country, he said, requires engineers at a time like this, to be solution driven, collaborate with other professionals, utilise local raw materials and manufacture for exports.

Odita, who spoke on the theme: “Engineering Nigeria out of a recession by Engineers”, observed that since anything that reverses reduction in gross domestic product will take Nigeria out of recession, members of the profession must keep abreast with trends in the sector by strategically embed structured local subcontracts in all contracts awarded to foreign companies to ensure value derivation for the economy.

He stressed the need to empower small and medium scale enterprises, diversify income stream and build capacity in the area of immediate development needs of the country.

“The Nigerian Society of Engineer should work collaboratively with government towards growing the economy out of the recession. This will not only solve the immediate problem but also prepare Nigeria for recession ahead on both s global and local scale”, he said.

Contributing, the Deputy National President of NSE, Kunle Mokuolu, said members of the profession must demonstrate competence by words and by actions, come up with innovative ideas that will develop the nation.

Mokuolu who is also the president-elect of the society stated that engineers’ participation in politics was crucial, to move for change in the area of policymaking and critical infrastructural development.

Speaking on behalf of the institution national president, he explained that NSE was determined to ensure that government deploys the expertise of Nigeria engineers.