The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), Prof Zacheus Opafunso has challenged new inductees of the Council to distinguish themselves by ethical practice of the mining and geosciences profession, adding that they must safeguard the profession by serving as its watchdogs.
Opafunso, who gave the charge in his remark at the 11th Induction Ceremony of the Council, on Thursday, in Abuja, stressed the importance of best practices and continuous professional development.
He said the advocacy for registration of professionals embarked upon by COMEG was yielding desired results, noting that it led to significant increase in number of inductees to 214 members in 2021.
The Chairman, Council of COMEG, Dr. Ebimotimi Godspower Okpoi congratulated the inductees, and stressed the importance of registration of industry professionals, stating that the Council has waged war against quackery, and that professionals have a role to play.
“The Council is fighting quackery in the profession,” he said, adding that in order to reduce the level of quackery in the field, a lot needs to be done, and a lot of capital is required.
He explained that since its establishment in 1990 and its inauguration in 2001, COMEG has strived to discharge its responsibilities as permitted by prevailing circumstances, adding that the Council has been able to secure the accreditation of programmes in tertiary institutions that offer courses which are under its control to regulate.
He said “about 60 institutions in the Southwest, Southeast and some in the North central were sent accreditation letters” even though only few responded.
Among dignitaries who also graced the induction ceremony was the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, who commended the Council for its determined effort to ensure that professionalism is entrenched in the Nigerian extractive industry. He assured that the Ministry will continue to support COMEG in actualising its laudable objectives by providing the conducive atmosphere required for its operations.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management, Mohammad Suleiman, congratulated the inductees and tasked them to ensure they practice by the code of ethics of the profession.
