Engineering professionals have advocated increased support for Nigerians in infrastructure development and national projects.

They also advocated stronger industrial training opportunities to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical industry experience.

The call was made at the “Ease of Doing Business” series organised in partnership with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch.

Speaking at the forum, former Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, Mr Akintayo Akintola, stressed the need to deepen industrial training opportunities for young engineering professionals to improve competence and practical exposure.

According to him, while the engineering profession in Nigeria has expanded significantly in terms of manpower, opportunities available to practitioners have not grown at the same pace.

“The engineering profession in Nigeria has grown in numbers, but opportunities have not kept pace. Industrial training, once a structured pipeline designed to give engineering students their first foothold in professional practice, has become a crowded and diluted process,” he said.

Akintola, the Managing Director of Charlie Debbie Consult, noted that in the past, engineering students had easier access to practical placements and industrial attachments, unlike the current situation, where limited placement opportunities are restricting hands-on experience for young professionals.

He lamented the shrinking opportunities within the private sector, noting that more companies are shutting down instead of expanding operations. “What we have today is fewer hands-on placements for the very professionals the system was built to serve. More companies are closing down rather than opening up, and the spaces are getting tighter every day,” he added.

The engineering expert also expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s data and database infrastructure, arguing that the country lacks reliable systems capable of supporting accurate population records and planning processes.

According to him, weak institutional structures and inadequate political will have hindered the deployment of engineering-driven systems required for national development. “The government has consistently refused to empower engineers with the tools and mandates necessary to build the systems the country needs,” he said.

Akintola further blamed inconsistent government policies and the absence of continuity in development planning for many of the country’s infrastructure challenges.

He recalled the development blueprints of the early 1970s, which produced landmark projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Third Mainland Bridge through long-term planning and commitment.

Speaking on the objective of the initiative, Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, Nimot Muili, said the forum was organised to showcase the contributions of Nigerian engineers both locally and internationally to economic growth and national development.

She explained that the programme also focused on engineering-led solutions, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for businesses, and the role of engineering in driving industrial and economic growth.

According to her, engineering innovation, infrastructure policies and technical solutions remain critical to improving Nigeria’s business environment and stimulating sustainable economic growth.

“As a branch, we are committed to showcasing engineers, investors, innovators and professionals who are making significant contributions to economic growth and national development,” she said.