ENGINEERING CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: THE TASK AHEADFOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

BYEngr. Famous O. IgbinoviaElectrical/Electronic DepartmentEdo State institute of Technology and Management, UsenP.M.B 1104 Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.Tel:+234(0)8025431824E-mail: famousigbinovia@yahoo.co.ukAnd Engr. Wilfred .A. AsonmwonririPower holding Company of Nigeria (PLC)Protection, Control and Metering DepartmentDelta work CentreP.M.B 096 Ughelli, Delta State, NigeriaTel: +234(0)8037921342E-mail: wasonmwonriri@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The place of any country in this technological age would be predicated on therole of Engineers. In performing their role, Engineers are faced with a lot of challengesand the Nigerian engineers are no exception.This paper discusses the engineering p r o f e s s i o n , w o r l d f e d e r a t i o n o f e n g i n e e r i n g o r g a n i s a t i o n ( W F E O ) p r o p o s a l o n Engineering ethics, the history of engineering science in the world and the history of Engineering in Nigeria. It also highlights Engineering challenges in Nigeria and the taskahead for a sustainable development.Keywords; Engineer, Engineering, Engineering challenges, sustainable development,Engineering profession,Engineering ethics. INTRODUCTION Since Nigerias Independence in 1960, successive governments of the federationhave devoted a lot of effort to the creation of physical facilities, such as roads, power supply, water supply, educational buildings, housing, hospital, communication e.t. c,which are basic requirements for the social and economic well-being of the nation. And itis obvious that the nation has been faced with a lot of engineering challenges sinceindependence(1).The issue now is the extent to which Nigerian Engineers responded to theseengineering challenges for sustainable development. Much has been written aboutsustainable development . The varying definitions are based on the econonmic, social,environmental and political realities, sustainable development suggests a conditionwherein the decisions undertaken today do not prevent possible alternative decisions inthe future. In addition, it is generally accepted that sustainable development is driven bya need to demonstrate increased environmental awareness in our day-to-day lives anddecision making (2).And the Nigerian Engineers just as their counterpart in other part of the world who have acquired the Art and Science which would enable them to harnessand direct the resources of nature for the benefit and convenience of mankind, should bea b l e t o h a r n e s s a n d d i r e c t t h e r e s o u r c e s o f n a t u r e f o r t h e e c o n o m i c , s o c i a l , environmental and political well being of mankind. The Engineering Profession E n g i n e e r i n g h a s b e e n d e f i n e d a s t h a t A r t o f S c i e n c e t h a t h a r n e s s e s t h e resources of nature to produce and maintain an artefact for the benefit and convenience of mankind. It is the practice of designing machines, bridges, railways, electrification of cities ,communication equipment, petrochemical industries e.t.c. In short, it is the application of science to solve societal problems (3,4).The oxford Advanced learners Dictionary defines profession as a type of jobthat needs special training or skill, expecially one that needs a high level of education.There are a number of characteristics which distinquished a profession from other lessformally constituted trades and occupations(5).( i ) T h e professional discipline has a command of a specialized body of k n o w l e d g e necessary for planning,design,construction and operation of physical structuresor engines/machines.( i i ) T h e b o d y o f k n o w l e d g e i s t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h r e c o g n i z e d t r a i n i n g a n d r e g u l a r l y updated on behalf of the professional body to ensure certified

standards of proficiency.( i i i ) A c o d e o f E t h i c s a n d s t a n d a r d s g o v e r n t h e p r a c t i c e o f t h e p r o f e s s i o n a n d e n s u r e the satisfaction and safety of the client in particular and the society in general.( i v ) A monopoly is usually granted to a professional body by society through laws t o ensure that only registered members can engage in the professional practice.( v ) T h e m e m b e r s a r e c o m m i t t e d t o c o n s t a n t e d u c a t i o n a l r e n e w a l t h r o u g h a l i f e l o n g learning of latest technology and professional development.( v i ) T h e p r o f e s s i o n a l b o d y i s l e g a l l y t o r e g u l a t e i t s e l f , d i s c i p l i n e i t s m e m b e r s a n d control the practice of the profession.The engineering profession exists in every aspect of human endeavour cuttingacross religious,sociocultural,economic and political barriers, hence engineering is away of life.professionalism is about commitment to standards of excellence in the performance of tasks which require specialized skills and expertise .And a professionalis thus someone whose basic satisfaction is in performing well,task for which he hasb e e n t r a i n e d a n d a l w a y s s t r i v e s t o a c h i e v e t h e b e s t s t a n d a r d p o s s i b l e i n a n y circumstance.Thus, to be a professional is to flaunt the highest levels of the skills oneprofesses to command(4,5). World Federation Of Engineering Organization (WFEO) Proposal On EngineeringEthics According to the oxford Advanced learners Dictionary, Ethics is defined as moralprinciples that control or influence a persons behaviour.The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET)U.S.A is taking the position that Engineers need to begin to think about ethical issuesbefore things may go wrong. In essence,EAC/ABET is advocating a kind of preventiveethics, which is much like preventive medicine in that one does not wait until somethingis obviously amiss before taking appropriate action. Preventive medicine advocat esgood health habits as a means for minimizing the need for more serious medical intervention later. Similarly, preventive ethics tries to anticipate possible consequencesof actions in such a way that more serious problems are avoided later(6).T h e w o r l d F e d e r a t i o n o f E n g i n e e r i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n ( W F E O ) c o m m i t t e e o n Engineering and Environment, recommends the following principles to all professionalEngineers.( i ) T r y , w i t h t h e b e s t o f y o u r a b i l i t y , c o u r a g e , e n t h u s i a s m a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o o b t a i n a superior technical achievement,which will contribute to and promote a healthysurrounding for all, in outdoor and indoor spaces.( i i ) S t r i v e t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e b e n e f i c i a l o b j e c t i v e s o f y o u r w o r k w i t h t h e l o w e s t possible consumption of raw materials and energy and the lowest production of wastes and any kind of pollution.( i i i ) E v a l u a t e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f y o u r a c t i v i t e s , d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t , i m m e d i a t e o r l o n g term on social equity and upon the health of people.( i v ) A s s e s s t h e i m p a c t s o f y o u r a c t i o n s o n t h e e c o s y s t e m , u r b a n i z e d o r n a t u r a l a n d select the best alternative for sustainable development.( v ) P r o m o t e a n y s t e p s t o b e t a k e n t o r e s t o r e a n d i m p r o v e t h e e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t m a y be disturbed by your proposal and activities.( v i ) R e j e c t a n y p r o p o s a l s t h a t m a y i n v o l v e u n f a i r d a m a g e t o h u m a n s u r r o u n d i n g a n d work for the best solution.( v i i ) N o t e t h a t e c o s y s t e m i n t e r - d e p e n d e n c e , r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y a n d s a v i n g s a n d ecosystem harmony are the bases of human existence and sustainability.T h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t N i g e r i a n e n g i n e e r s a r e p l a y i n g v i t a l r o l e i n t h e implementation of many projects in the country. But those actively involved in the promotion of development must use their talent, knowledge and creative abilities to helpsociety remove human induced pollution and destruction of resources to improve thequality of life of the Nigerian people.

The History Of Engineering Science In The World Engineering is the application of science. Without science, no engineering resultscan be achieved for practical usage(4). The exact origin of the engineering professioncan be considered to have been at the time the first man used his ingenuity to adapt thematerials and forces of nature to meet his needs.Civilization brought miracles intoscience in the third,forth and fifth centuries B.C. These were the times when plato (427347 BC), Aristotle(384-322BC) and Archimedes (287 -212 B.C) lived. The modernScience actually came into existence in the 17th century. This century exhibited theworks of some of the following scientists and engineers(4,7). Kepler(1571-1630) laid down the three laws of planetary motion in 1609-1617. Newton(1642-1727) formulated the laws of motions Galileo in 1593 invented the thermometer and 1609 use his telescope to discover Jupiters moons. John Napier developed Logarithms to aid calculation work. This Lead to the inventionof a calculating device called slide Rule. Leibnitz developed a mechanical computer in 1673. Charles Babbage an English man stated in 1823 the idea of the modern computer and there after invented the first automatic machine capable of doing arithmeticat a fast rate. Alessando antonio Volta (1745-1827) an italian physicist invented the electric batteryin 1796, which was named after him. Andre-Marie Ampere (1775-1836), a french Mathematician and physicist laid the foundation of electrodynamics. Micheal faraday(1791-1867), an English chemist and physicist was the greatestexperimentalist who ever lived. He discovered the electromagnetic induction in1831, which opened the door for the generation of electricity. Joseph Henry (1797-1878), an American Physicists, discovered the inductance andconstructed an electric motor. Gauss and Weber in 1833 discovered a telegraph apparatus and the morse code. Draisine, a German in 1816, designed the first two-wheeled vechicle called bicycle. Charles and frank Duryea made the first American internal combustion motor car in1893. The list of Scientist and Engineers is endless, man is creating , solving problemson daily basis and has moved into other planets for researchs. The rapid advance of technology has brought forth many societies and many technological and professionalo r g a n i z a t i o n s o f p o t e n t i a l i n t e r e s t t o E n g i n e e r s s u c h a s t h e W o r l d F e d e r a t i o n O f Engineering Organization (WFEO). The establishment of this unity organization has brought about the further development of the engineering profession. The History Of Engineering In Nigeria Government establishments and private entrepreneurs in Nigeria have beenaddressing themselves to the problem of developing technology that is definitely a solution to improving the

quality of life of the people, maximization of the use of availableresources and creation of more job opportunities. The history of engineering in Nigeriatraces its root to the establishment of the Public Works Department (P.W.D) of southernG o v e r n m e n t i n l a g o s i n 1 8 9 6 , t h e P . W . D c o m p r i s e d m a i n l y o f t h r e e s e c t i o n s (Civil,Mechanical and Electrical).It was responsible for the management of engineeringp r o b l e m s i n t h e s o u t h e r n G o v e r n m e n t o f N i g e r i a . A s t h e c o u n t r y e n t e r e d i n t o independence in 1960, the three regions (North, East and West) had their separateP.W.D,(4,7 ).In 1966, the Nigerian council for scientific and industrial Research (NCSIR) wasestablished, The NSCIR gave rise to the establishment of :International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (IITA) in 1967,Kaduna polytechnic in 1968, Yaba College of t e c h n o l o g y i n 1 9 6 9 , a n d a n e w c o u n c i l c a l l e d N i g e r i a n C o u n c i l F o r S c i e n c e a n d Technology (NCST). The creation of the NCST engendered the promugation of NigerianSteel Development authority (NSDA) Decree of 1971.In the same year, the AgriculturalR e s e a r c h Council Of Nigeria (ARCN) was established. Also , in 1971 on t h e recommendation of NCST, the industrial Training Fund (ITF) was established. In 1973,the Petroleum Technology Development Fund was created to train Nigerians in the fieldof Engineering, Geology, Science and Management in the petroleum Industry. This leadto the establishment of the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri.The National Science andTechnology Development Agency (NSTDA) was established in 1977 and in 1980, aseparate Ministry of science and Technology was born .In compliance with Vienna(1979) ,directives and recommendations, apart from the existing specialized FederalPolytechnics, more Federal Universities of Technology were also established in 1980 tocater for the training of engineering manpower .In 1987, th e National Science and Technology Fund (NSTF) was put in place to provide fund for activities in science andtechnology . In 1988, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)was born for the development of industrial raw materials, creating self sufficiency andmaximization of inputs to local industries (4).Evidence of Engineering and Technology in Nigeria is seen in development andadaptation of appropriate machines and equipment for easing out tedium and drudgeryin certain operations in agriculture and Industries developed by these governmentagencies. These indigenously developed adapted machines and equipment are now b e c o m i n g r e g u l a r e x h i b i t s a t t r a d e f a i r s , s h o w s a n d e x h i b i t i o n t h a t a r e r e g u l a r l y organized by government agencies, associations and private industrialists (7). Engineering Challenges In Nigeria Engineers being all in all: In most government and private establishments in Nigeria,engineering personnel are assume to know all. A civil engineer can be employed todo the work of an electrical engineer, chemical engineer, Mechanical Engineer etc atthe same time. instead of seeking the services of engineering professionals in theseother areas of engineering. Corruption: most engineering projects in the country is carried out using the fiftypercent (50%) rule, thereby eating the capital and not the profit. That is, contractorsgiving even more than fifty percent of the total cost of a project to some corrupt government officials and politicians before actually embarking on a project and inmost cases, since the remaining part of the money will not be enough to do the job,the project may not be carried out and if it is carried out at all, it is usually sub standard or abandoned.

 Non Engineers carrying out engineering contracts using engineering credentials:Most engineering contractors carry out engineering projects using engineering credentials of engineering professionals in order to win or get engineering contracts. Politics : the nature of the training of the engineers does not actually expose him/her to be actively involve in politics, though they may be passively involved. For instancea power engineer in a power station can not be actively involved in politics. Sincepower stations are usually sited in secluded areas Existing engineering facilities and infrastructures not being upgraded : mostengineering establishment ever since they were commissioned have not been upgraded , thereby not able to meet up with the present day demand. Non-adherance to workshop sections in conferences : most engineering conferencesdo not adhere to workshop sections, usually after technical paper presentation, then,it is all over. Attitude towards maintenance :our industries and infrastructures are built once andfor all without any routine maintenance work, the result is the general decay of industries and infrastructures in the country. Reverse engineering not in our engineering curriculum; hence, making technologytransfer some how difficult. Engineers not fellowshipping with their colleagues; .most engineering personneloccupying managerial positions are not registered with the Nigerian society of Engineers (NSE) and the council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria. (COREN). Hence , such persons may seem not concern with the advancement of engineering and technology in the country. Research and Development : Government lackadaisical attitude towards researcha n d d e v e l o p m e n t h i n d e r s r e s e a r c h o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d universities. Government considers research and development to cost a lot of moneyand there is no link between research institutes, universities and industries in the country.

The Task Ahead For A Sustainable Development

Different engineering personnel in various fields should be employed in a l l engineering Departments in both government and private establishments , so thatspecific jobs can be given to an engineer in his/her chosen area of specialization.That is, there should be division of labour.

The pay package of engineers in Nigeria should be commensurate with t h e i r counterparts in Europe and America, so that they will not be tempted to eat the capital of any project. Engineers should be discipline and avoid non-engineers using them to achieve their selfish aim. They should only tender their certificate when they are involved in a p r o j e c t . A n d e s t a b l i s h m e n t s s h o u l d b e m a n d a t e d b y t h e N i g e r i a n s o c i e t y o f engineers, to employ at least one registered engineer. Just as the office of the Attorney General is occupied by a lawyer, the offices of theministers and commissioners of energy, works and housing, Environment and transport should be specially for engineers. Existing engineering facilities and infrastructures should be upgraded with thep r e s e n t d a y s t a t e o f t h e a r t f a c i l i t i e s i n o r d e r t o m e e t u p w i t h t h e p r e s e n t d a y demand. Engineering conferences organised in Nigeria should always adhere to workshopsections after technical paper presentation, this will go a long way to develop our local technology. Routine maintenance work should be carried out , on a regular basis after a projecthave been commissioned , this will increase the life span of such infrastructures andfacilities. Reverse engineering should be introduced into our educational curriculum , in order to make technology transfer very easy , we should all embrace the popular Igbo made and stop using foreign labels on our locally manufactured goods. Engineers should be mandated to belong to their professional bodies and withoutthis , they should not be allowed to practice. That is , they should be mandated tofellowship with their professional colleagues. Government should make money available for engineering research a n d development, in order for the country to advance technologically. Conclusion Engineering is a double-edged sword. It is both the cause of m a n y environmental, social, economic and political problems faced by man and also a key tosolving them. It is now recognized that engineers need cons iderable support in their attempts in various walk of life to promote sustainable development. There is no doubtt h a t a l o t h a s b e e n achieved by the Nigerian engineers in this respect , but our unsatisfactory p e r f o r m a n c e s o f a r i s a p r i n c i p a l c h a l l e n g e f o r u s t o p r e s e r v e t h e conditions for life and welfare of mankind, today and in the future . Even though our submissions here may not be all inclusive, it is our candid opinion that if the opinion given above are adhered to, and the engineer upholds the values of truth , honesty andtrust-worthiness, human life will be safeguarded REFERENCES (1)The Nigerian society of engineers ,proceedings of the n a t i o n a l e n g i n e e r i n g conference, opening address by the federal commission of works, Literamedpress; ikeja, December 1977. (2) Jim webber and Dave Hill : reverse engineering the sustainable Development p r o c e s s : a d a p t i n g e i g h t d e c a d e o f E x p e r i e n c e t o e n h a n c e t h e f u t u r e . , WWW,google.com,

2007.( 3 ) T h e N i g e r i a n s o c i e t y o f E n g i n e e r s , B e n i n B r a n c h , A o n e d a y p r e - i n t e r v i e w seminar; March, 2006.( 4 ) U s i f o . F . O e t a l , a c c e p t e d p a p e r s u b m i t t e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n , J E S A , F a c u l t y o f engineering and technology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, 2007( 5 ) T h e N i g e r i a n s o c i e t y o f E n g i n e e r s , T r a i n t h e t r a i n e r s w o r k s h o p ; C . C . O k o r o : professional ethics in engineering, March 2006( 6 ) M i c h a e l S P r i t c h a r d ; T e a c h i n g E n g i n e e r i n g E t h i c s ; A c a s e s t u d y a p p r o a c h ; center for the study of ethics in society, N a t i o n a l s c i e n c e F o u n d a t i o n , WWW.google.com , 2007.7 . B . M . R a i e t a l T h e e n g i n e e r a n d s o c i e t y 2 n d e d i t i o n , A m b i k p r e s s , B e n i n C i t y . August 2001

Lack of confidence, bane of engineering practice in Nigeria NSE President

| Print | E-mail Written by Paul Omorogbe Monday, 28 November 2011 THE national President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Olumuyiwa Ajibola, has identified governments lack of confidence in the competence of indigenous engineers as the bane of the practice of the profession in Nigeria today. He said this negative mindset was a major hindrance to building the capacity of Nigerian engineers. These were his comments while fielding questions from journalists at a press briefing which was part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ibadan branch of the NSE. Mr Ajibola, speaking further on the issue of lack of confidence in local expertise, said: It is a very poor mindset for any nation to disregard local expertise, because no country can be developed except by its own people. He said contracting foreigners for developmental projects came at higher financial costs to the nation and was a hinderance to indigenous engineers to developing their skills. As a solution to this problem, Ajibola, who is rounding up his tenure as president, stated that local content policy should be made mandatory in the nations development programmes. It will be recalled that the Nigerian society of Engineer was founded in 1958, with the formal branch being the Ibadan branch coming to life in 1961. This branch recently held its election with Mr Gbenga Ilori emerging as its newest chairman, in an transition process described by foremost engineer and founding father of the society, Chief Ife Akintunde, as rancour-free.

Nigerian Society Of Engineers At 50: The Challenges, The Prospects By Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, MNSE bgabdullahi@yahoo.com Just as by standing on the shoulders of giants we can become even bigger giants, so it is that by climbing on the spires of skyscrapers, engineers can reach for ever taller skyscrapers. If this be hubris, it is an admirable trait that has, on balance, led to cumulative progress in which engineers and non engineers alike take pride. By Henry Petroski in the Hubris of Extreme engineering The above quotation is an encouragement to engineers to think big and act big in their attempt to radically change society for the better. It is also saying in another way that the feat so far achieved by engineers is a clear demonstration of the almost unlimited capacity of human brain to bring about innovative changes. According to Microsoft Encarta 2008 Engineering is the term applied to the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences , gained by study, experience and practice, is applied to the efficient use of the materials and forces of nature. The outcome of whatever engineers make is a function of many contending factors and must be attuned with the existing physical, political and social infrastructure. In other words the socio-economic, cultural and political factors must come in to play. But the success of any venture be it social, religious, economic, developmental etc is achievable when a combination of factors that are mutually complementary are well thought-out. For scientific and technological processes to gain ascendancy in our clime certain salient issues have to be played out. This piece intends to focus on issues that necessitated the formation of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in 1958, its successes and failings and the way forward. In doing this a number of issues will be raised with a view to addressing the present problems based on the historical perspectives and in the light of paradigm shifts in policies and programs of government. A brief history of the NSE, its major achievements so far, the challenges it faced and is now facing and a way forward based on the realities on the ground would be tackled. BRIEF HISTORY OF NSE The NSE was formed by 32 radical young engineers and students in London. It was a patriotic move to resist discrimination and seek enhanced opportunities for the Nigerian engineer. That period was the eve of independence and the Nigerian engineer was not finding it easy to effectively carry out his functions based on the subordinate status and discrimination he was going through. That epoch making gesture of NSE formation has now culminated, after fifty years of strenuous efforts in to a very formidable corporate body of more than 20,000 members. Science and technology as the fulcrum of modern human development is a direct function of the societal norms, values, mission and vision of those in the position of leadership. This is why the development and consolidation of the successes of the NSE follow closely the overall perception of the leadership and by extension the followership in the context of a complex polity. In the light of the aforesaid one may be tempted to ask how far has the NSE gone in addressing the vital issues affecting engineering in its entire ramification? Has the response shown by the government positive? And to what extent has the society in general and

engineers in particular aided or abetted the realization of the set goals of NSE? These and many other questions will be tackled as we explore the NSE at 50. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF NSE The COREN decree of 1970 as amended in 1990 is a veritable weapon for ensuring that engineering is practiced in accordance with the laid down regulations. Needless to say the regulation of engineering practice is better left to the experts who can operate within the laws of the land. The decree and its amendments were the culmination of efforts geared toward putting the Society in good stead and in line with the internationally accepted standards. It is noteworthy that it took 12 years before the promulgation of the decree by the General Yakubu Gowon regime. It was also only in 1990 another 20 years when other members of the engineering family-technologists, technicians, craftsmen and consultants were incorporated with the amendment of the decree. The establishment of council and secretariat went through metamorphosis over the years to reach the present state. Though the struggle to gain societal recognition is a continuous exercise but the deft move by some of the past presidents to reach out to government and to use whatever influence they could garner paid up handsomely. In this respect the name of Engr. Khalil Inuwa is worth mentioning. His tenure witnessed an unprecedented rapport with those in power which was utilized for the benefit of the Society. The settlement of debt and the full cooperation of government and its agencies facilitated the completion of modern engineering centre in Lagos. Also the enforcement of the law that for an engineer to reach level 12 in the civil service he/she must be registered with COREN. Also the thorny issue of graduateship exam for HND holders was resolved and this was followed by the amendment of COREN decree. The number of engineers who were ministers assisted greatly in this respect. A good lesson that could be learned and applied is the creation of a favorable situation through persuasion and action by engineers that they mean well for this country and if given the opportunity they posses the wherewithal to change this country for the better. The various efforts of governments over time toward the development of the society have demonstrated quite clearly how a combination of leadership qualities and policy outline has assisted greatly in the achievement of set goals. For instance though Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Directorate of foods, Roads and Rural infrastructure (DFFRI) were established to address specific problems the PTF was a resounding success due mainly to the widely acclaimed leadership qualities of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). That clearly vindicated the opinion of people like Alhaji (Dr.) Aminu Saleh (the Wambai of Katagum) who is of the view that for any interventionist measure to succeed the normal bureaucracy has to be sidelined and a high measur e of independence has to be given to the operators to dissuade any form of interference. More importantly the head of any such venture must be someone highly principled and respected who proved his worth over time and who is not ready to compromise his hard won reputation. To me, such action boils down to what is called situational management-look at the problem and proffer a solution based on the variables on ground. FAST AND PRESENT CHALLENGES The battle cry of the Nigerian engineers for recognition by the British colonial government led to the formation of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Based on the current realities one can say, with measure of certainty, that colonial mentality is still very much with us and seem to defy solution. Foreign contractors and consultants will just be given contracts and consultancy jobs with little input from Nigerians. These so-called consultants are no match

to their sidelined Nigerian counterparts. It is a very sad issue and it shows how unwilling we are to solve our basic infrastructural problems. Due to this many brilliant students are forced to look elsewhere instead of wasting their time in studying engineering. So many countries who were our contemporaries have gone far in terms of development leaving us with un-implementable policies. This sorry state to me is not the government problem alone but can be put at the doorstep of engineers who are not proactive and who seem to be oblivious of the negative impact of their actions to the development of this country. Our senior engineers revel in grand self-delusion WAY FORWARD In the NSE newsletter of January, 1987 Engr, Ife Akintunde said and I quote All the advice of the NSE in its twenty-eight years of existence and eighteen years of annual conferences has fallen on virtually deaf ears of the governments. Otherwise, Nigeria would not be the huge accumulation of the technologies of others which it is todayOnly the first of her steel plants and oil refineries would have been accomplished through the know-how of others; she would have been turning out her own model of cars, wagons and electric gadgets This statement made some twenty-one years back is still quite apt and vividly describe the situation Nigerian engineers have been grappling with for a very long time. The question is after fifty years of existence as a technical society how do we tackle this problem of nonchalant attitude that has been militating against our society and by implication the whole nation? Do we just fold our arms and allow this to continue? If not what pragmatic approaches are we to make in order to turn the table for the better? In tackling some of these questions let us briefly look at the agenda of the 30 Years Ahead Committee Report on some of the problem areas listed thus; The prevailing situation is that foreign engineering companies have undue advantages over their Nigerian counterparts in the award of consultancy and construction contracts, and even in the area of offering technical policy advice to the government. The Society has set itself the task of altering this unpleasant situation.(p13) It may be necessary to conduct a sci entific survey, first, to establish the reasons why there are more engineers in management, academia and consultancy than in construction and manufacturing.(p17) Industry, agriculture, commerce and academia in Nigeria seem to have no baseline against which to specify equipment and standards for the variety of purposes their businesses and/or studies requirethe engineering practice in Nigeria needs to be more effectively controlled and regulated and this can be done through continuing legislations and enforcement thereof.(p13) Closely studying the proposals we find them unassailable but remain to date mere pipedreams. The reason for this lies with the level of timidity exhibited by the Nigerian engineer in tackling issues that affect the profession. In our places of work our behavior is more of certificated laborers and not managers of men and materials. We are very good in blaming others for our woes while we are in a position to effectively change things for the better if we insist on doing the right things. Our senior colleagues seem not interested in bailing us out as they engross themselves in buttering their bread. They are unmindful about the implications of their actions on the profession and on themselves when they finally retire. Other engineers who are contractors, consultants or politicians are not doing much to encourage the younger ones. The results of all these actions produce a docile group of professionals who feel helpless in a country that need their input if it is to achieve its developmental goals. Nigerian engineers are left with no better option than to resign to fate. CONCLUSION

To conclude this write-up let us pause and reflect on the way forward. We need to extricate ourselves from self-pity, docility that pervades our rank and file. We should be ready and willing to serve as vanguard to make engineering vibrant. We need to build bridges with other professional colleagues. Engineers should be involved in politics and assert themselves in any other areas that pertain to decision making. They should be their brothers keepers by empowering the younger ones and through continuous process of capacity building. They should never shy away from expressing themselves as their profession remains the most critical to any development. Lastly the powers conferred to COREN by the laws of the land should be enforced so that engineering attains its rightful place in the scheme of things. I say bravo! Lets brace ourselves to the future challenges and endeavor to utilize the almost unlimited potentials of our profession. Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, MNSE, Madaki Qtrs., Gombe bgabdullahi@yahoo.com