The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) on Wednesday hosted a landmark Regional Engineering Stakeholders Summit in Kano.
The summit brought together engineers, manufacturers, policymakers, academics, and regulators from across the North-West zone.
The summit marked a pivotal moment in COREN’s ongoing drive to reform engineering practice in Nigeria, with a renewed focus on stamping out quackery, eliminating substandard practices, and aligning regional engineering standards with global best practices.
According to a statement by Ojonugwa Haruna, Head of COREN’s Corporate Advancement and Public Relations Department, the summit focused on addressing critical sectoral challenges such as the proliferation of substandard construction materials, frequent building collapses, and the increasing threat posed by unlicensed individuals masquerading as engineers.
In his keynote address, COREN President, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE, FAEng, described the summit as a shift from dialogue to decisive action.
“The North West is an economic powerhouse, and its growth must rest on a foundation of safety, standards, and quality.
This summit is about concrete action—establishing a framework that tackles engineering failures, strengthens oversight, and unlocks the region’s full industrial potential,” he said.
Prof. Abubakar outlined a series of far-reaching reforms designed to raise the bar in engineering regulation. These include enhancing the Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E) process, establishing investigation panels and Engineering Disciplinary Tribunals to prosecute offenders, and stronger collaboration with law enforcement agencies and sector regulators.
He also emphasised the need for sector-specific strategies, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, and housing, to ensure that engineering practices are safe, efficient, and globally competitive.
Speaking further on the reforms, COREN Registrar, Engr. Prof. O.A.U. Uche, commended the efforts of the North-West Regional Steering Committee (RSC) and reaffirmed COREN’s broader vision of positioning engineering as a cornerstone of national development and economic transformation. He explained that the Council’s reform strategy includes decentralising operations through establishing RSCs, strengthening Outcome-Based Engineering Education (OBE), and institutionalising the Engineering Residency Programme (ERP) to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Additional initiatives the Registrar highlighted include making Continuous Professional Development (CPD) mandatory, reinforcing disciplinary mechanisms to uphold professional accountability, and pushing for international recognition of Nigerian engineers through participation in global engineering accords.
“Regulation cannot be effective without active engagement and cooperation with stakeholders. Our strength lies in partnerships that drive sustainable engineering excellence,” Prof. Uche noted.
A major summit highlight was the formal inauguration of the North-West Regional Steering Committee (RSC), tasked with coordinating COREN’s reforms at the state and zonal levels. The RSC will enforce compliance with COREN regulations, support the Council’s roadmap, and ensure effective implementation at the grassroots.
Representing the RSC chairman, Engr. Habu A. Gumel, Engr. Ibrahim A. Maimaje described the committee’s formation as a significant milestone in COREN’s decentralisation drive.
“The RSC is designed to strengthen regional governance and empower local institutions to ensure that COREN regulation is not just national, but practical at the grassroots level,” he stated.
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Marwan Ahmed applauded COREN’s leadership and ongoing reforms.
He reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to supporting the Council in achieving its roadmap for the engineering profession.
Dignitaries in attendance included representatives of the governors of Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, alongside top officials from public and private sector organisations. Among them were Engr. Tukur Tangali, Managing Director of Katsina State Water Board; Engr. Yusuf Abdullahi Gumel, Director of Civil Works in Jigawa State; and Prof. Haruna Musa, Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, who was represented at the event.
Also present was Mr. Zoang Ben, representative of Carlha/Cherry Nigeria Limited.
The summit concluded with a series of technical sessions and stakeholder engagements led by Engr. Olaolu Ogunduyile. These sessions provided an interactive platform for engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on strategies for advancing engineering practice and regulation across the North-West region and beyond.
With the successful hosting of the summit and the inauguration of the Regional Steering Committee, COREN has signalled a new era of engineering reform in Nigeria—one grounded in safety, professionalism, accountability, and global best practices.
