Egbo Grace-Abakaliki
Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Nweze Umahi has advocated for institutionalization of a compulsory one-year training course for young Engineers.
Umahi who said the institution would build the capacity of future Engineers in the Country, gave the charge at the state new Executive Council Chambers, Ochoudo city in Abakaliki, when he received the leadership of NSE yesterday.
He also called on Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE to offer professional ingenuity in fixing the numerous challenges facing the country.
According to him, the development of every Nation starts with Engineers and also ends with Engineers as no Nation can develop unless the Nigeria Society of Engineers and Council for the Regulation of Engineers rise to the challenges of the country.
He then announced the donation of a facility at the Silicone Valley Ochoudo Centenary City Abakaliki for the takeoff of the one-year compulsory training for the young Engineers. He also called for the collaboration with the Society to provide requisite technical support for the upcoming Universities of Aeronautic Engineering and Technology and ICT as well as the International Airport in the State.
His words “For me the development of any State, the development of any Nation starts with Engineers and ends with Engineers, even if it is medicine, if you do not have the medical equipment manufactured by the Engineers you will not move and any serious State that wants to start must start with Engineers.
“I don’t know what is making us not to have the same kind of retraining as the Lawyers. How many of the Engineers that are trained in the Universities know what is grade 25 concrete? This Nation can never develop unless the Nigeria Society of Engineers and Council for the Regulation of Engineers rise to the challenges we are facing today. Today the cost of projects is the highest all over the world and it is dangerous.
“The training of Engineers are quite different, an Engineer is trained not to look at money. As an Engineer when you start looking for money the Engineering Profession will leave you and you will be so exposed.
“We can say no to quacks, you cannot practice if you are not an Engineer, if you do that without proper registration, the person has to be in jail because of the law we will have to work together to enact.”
” We don’t really have control of our Engineers, even concrete finishers or what they call messin in some States answer Engineers. Buildings are being erected without the stamp of the Engineers. People are practicing without the mandate of the Council and this shouldn’t be”
Umahi however set up a committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala and Commissioner for Investment, Mrs. Chioma Nweze as Secretary to interface with the Nigeria Society of Engineers for the timely takeoff of the compulsory one-year training program.
Earlier, the National President of Nigeria Society of Engineers, Alhaji Babagana Mohammed commended Governor David Umahi for the infrastructural achievements in the State and described the transformation as unprecedented.
