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Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (2ndR), Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr Lawal Babachir (L), National President, Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr Kashim Ali (2ndL) and Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, at the opening ceremony of the 25th Engineering Assembly of COREN, held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure…Photo: Segun Aderiri |
Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged the Federal Government to develop a blueprint that will protect local industries and also define the nation’s global location.
The Governor made the plea on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 25th Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), held at the International Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure, the State capital.
He said for the country to move forward, her leaders must understand the type of political economy to operate with a view to making her globally competitive.
The Governor noted that Nigeria as a nation blessed with abundant human resources must be able to rethink the nature of her global economy, devoid of unnecessary influence from the world economic bodies.
Despite the huge human capital available in Nigeria, Mimiko regretted that most of her local industries are less competitive compared with the foreign ones.
Dr Mimiko who commended COREN for the theme of the conference”Embracing the Future: Improving the Quality of Engineering Education and Practice in Nigeria”, described it as apt and timely at this crucial period of challenges facing the country.
In his address, the special guest of honour President, Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, condemned the rampant cases of building collapse and loss of lives and property in the country.
President Buhari, who assured of his administration’s partnership with COREN with a view to overcoming its challenges, charged the council to work in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
Earlier in his welcome address,the president of COREN, Engr Kashim Alli, reiterated the commitment of the council to protect the integrity of engineering profession as a relevant stakeholder in moving Nigeria forward.
At the event, engineers in Nigeria were also charged on massive production of local contents to achieve the nation’s Vision 2020 and beyond.
A University Don Professor Umar Buba Bindir gave the charge as a keynote speaker on his lecture titled “Enhancing the future :Improving the quality of education and practice in Nigeria.
Bindir who is the Secretary to Government of Adamawa state emphasised the need for Nigerian engineers to brace up to the challenge of producing locally made products such as hand sets, computers, cars among others.
He said Nigerian Engineers should be encouraged on new innovations to fast-track national development like building of modular refineries, roads and other among others.
While advising government at all levels to invest in both human and capital development to boost the nation’s confidence economically, the keynote Speaker called on the government at the centre to support activities that would lead to increased indigenous participation and local content capacity development in the country.
Also speaking, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi represented by his deputy, Kennechi Igwe commended the Mimiko-led administration on the outstanding infrastructural development in Ondo State, particularly the International Event Centre, The Dome and road infrastructures.
He described the theme of the conference as a step in the right direction to ameliorate the nation’s infrastructural deficits stressing that Engineers must be given their pride of place in Nigeria to make valuable contributions to nation building.
Earlier, National President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Mr Kashim Ali said Akure was chosen because of the progressive initiatives and ideologies put in place by the Mimiko-led administration which is now fast becoming the most preferred event destination in Nigeria.
Source: The Hope