Nigerian engineers have officially joined 21 other global members under the Washington Accord, which will promote local expertise in the international stage. With the attainment, Nigeria has become second African country after South Africa to join the accord.
[ad]
The Washington Accord (WA), signed in 1989, under the International Engineering Alliance, is an international multi-lateral agreement between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering qualifications within their jurisdictions who have chosen to work collectively to assist the mobility of professional engineers. There are currently 21 countries in the WA, including UK, USA, Germany, Canada, Japan, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Taiwan, Singapore, Hongkong, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Switzerland, South-Africa, and Nigeria as the latest member.

As practiced by the other Accords that cater for Engineering Technologists and Engineering Technicians-Sydney and Dublin, respectively, the signatories of the Washington Accord (W.A.) are committed to the development and recognition of good practice in engineering education.

The activities of the Accord’s signatories are intended to assist the growth of globalization of mutual recognition of engineering qualifications. The Washington Accord is specifically focused on academic programmes which deal with the practice of engineering at the professional level.

The Accord acknowledges that accreditation of engineering academic programmes is a key foundation for the practice of engineering at the professional level in each of the countries or territories covered by the Accord.
[ad]
The attainment of the feat was made possible through the Council of Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). COREN had expressed interest in becoming a member of the W. A. in 2018 and officially submitted its application in 2019, which could not receive the minimum required number of votes from other Signatories. Meanwhile, there were requirements necessary to be met before admission, such as Conformation of Engineering Education Curriculum to Outcome-Based Education (OBE), Sufficient evidence of the Independence of the Accreditation Body from Government or external influence and others.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, yesterday, President of COREN, Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, disclosed that having satisfactorily met all requirements, COREN was admitted to become a Provisional Signatory of the Washington Accord, making Nigeria the 2nd African member of the Accord in Africa.
[ad]
He said some of the benefits of joining W.A. to COREN-registered Engineers include:” The quality, productivity and mobility of Nigerian engineers would be improved upon and the engineering qualification offered in Nigeria is internationalized. Nigerian Engineers plying their trade in other economies of the world, will enhance the transfer of knowledge which will in turn, improve Nigeria’s technological capacity.”

He said as member Nigerian engineers are opportune to practice in other parts of the world, the exchange of currencies between the two economies is promoted.

He added:”Having become a member Signatory of the Washington Accord, based on the minimum requirements and international best practices and standards, the quality of Engineering Education in Nigerian Universities will greatly improve because the implemented OBE system is student-centered. Engineering graduates in Nigerian will henceforth meet the demands of the industry both in-country and abroad.
He further said similar arrangements are being pursued by COREN under the Sydney and Dublin Accords for Nigerian Technologists and Technicians. Entry into these Accords would create great opportunities for Nigerian Engineering professionals.

“This success story can never be complete without mentioning the immense support and professional guidance of COREN’s nominators – Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC),” he said.
[ad]