Engineers urge professionals to participate in politics

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged practitioners to be involved in politics and bring their professional competencies to bear in the process of governance.

NSE President, Babagana Mohammed, made the call at the 34th yearly general meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE), tagged Eko Ile 2021, with the theme: “Digital Technology and its Impact on Structural Engineering Practice in Nigeria,” held in Lagos.

Commenting on the issue of building collapse, the NSE President, who chaired the event, asserted that the use of qualified engineers would impact the quality of projects, adding that the society will benefit from the wealth of their knowledge.

He stressed the need for government to patronise local engineering firms in the area of maintenance and capacity building, if the nation will reach its full potential.

In his presentation, the guest speaker/the immediate past president of the institution, Eddy Atumonyogo, stressed the need to harness and implement digital technology in structural engineering practice and highlighted the impact of technology.

He said, structural engineers should embrace technology, collaborate with others, adjust to accommodate digitally young leaders and guide them to acquire digital knowledge.

In his address, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said his administration would continue to collaborate with stakeholders, especially experts and professional bodies in the built industry to ensure due processes in the construction of buildings in the State.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said the government will rely on them to strengthen the regulatory regime that would guarantee due process is followed in the built industry.

Sanwo-Olu added that the recurring issue of building collapse is an indication of the urgent need to take a holistic view of the entire process of building construction, including the competence and professional conducts of those involved in construction as well as the effectiveness of regulatory framework to ensure appropriate measures are taken to avert future occurrence.

Earlier, NIStructE President, Dr. Kehinde Osifala, disclosed that the theme of the conference was carefully chosen to educate its members and stakeholders on the capabilities of technology and how it relates to structural engineering.

While bemoaning the spate of collapsed building , especially in Lagos, Osifala said the institution is ready to partner and collaborate with stakeholders to bring about a reduction in the incidence of structural and building collapse.