By My Engineers
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) was founded in 1997. Its main objective is to serve as a ‘Think Tank’ for the promotion and advancement of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation in Nigeria.
Its membership is made up of accomplished Nigerian engineers across all disciplines and industry sectors of engineering in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Background: Engineering practice in the modern sense was introduced into Nigeria with the colonial administration of the country. The major technological undertaking during the later part of the nineteenth century was the development of infrastructure- public buildings, roads, telegraphy and the railway. The government organs in charge of these developments along with other private sector organs did set up their respective training facilities for technicians. But the first step towards professional engineering practice was taken when the Higher College, Yaba, was established.
Up until the end of the first half of the twentieth century, only a few Nigerians had acquired full professional engineering status. These few obtained their basic engineering qualification and training abroad, the United Kingdom, in the main. It was only during the 1960’s that the first professionally qualified engineers were produced locally. By mid 1980’s about 40 Nigerian universities and polytechnics were training medium and high-level technical manpower.
In the development of engineering profession in Nigeria, regulation has been carried out by the professionals themselves, through learned societies and a statutory registration and regulatory body.The latter,the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) was set up by law in 1970 and is currently made up entirely of technical professionals.
The umbrella learned society.the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), was founded in 1958, and looks after the professional needs of members through well structured programmes.
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering was inspired by the need for a small, focused engineering body that would have the narrower objectives of the advancement and pursuit of excellence in Technology and Engineering, and the provision of a national platform for experts to pool their experience and insight and make input into public and private technical policy. The idea was encouraged by the existence of similar academies in most developed and developing countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, India, the United States of America, Russia,China,South Africa and Egypt etc.
Strategic Areas of Focus
1) Engineering Research,Development and Innovation
2) Engineering Education and Skills Development
3) Engineering Infrastructure Development
4) Sustainable Engineering Technology in the Manufacturing and Process Industries Agriculture and Mining)
5) Engineering Operations and Maintenance (Facilities,infrastructures)
Strategic Objectives
- 1) Promote Engineering Excellence: by advocating standards of engineering processes and products with a view to protecting the general public from poor quality engineering and manufacturing.
- 2) Provide Advice to Government, Policy Makers and all Stakeholders: by articulating policies on science, engineering, technology and innovation across all areas of engineering endeavours.
- 3) Support Individual Engineers: by empowering and promoting innovation, research and the development of the individual engineer.
- 4) Promote Engineering Businesses: by developing strategies for the development of micro,small,medium and large scales engineering enterprises.
- 5) Promote Sustainability: by championing the adoption and application of technologies that have low greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutants and do not have harmful impacts on public health or waste natural resources.
- 6) Collaborate with Other Academies and Institutions: by learning and sharing best practices in the development of science,engineering, technology and innovation
- 7) Effective Leadership:by developing and implementing a governance and organisational structure for the Academy to be able to deliver on its external objectives.
- 8) Membership Commitment and Continuous Development of the Academy: by developing and implementing policies and processes on admission and retention of fellows to promote active participation and commitment,including promotion of diversity and inclusiveness.
- 9) Effective Secretariat: by developing and implementing a functional secretariat able t deliver on the Academy’s commitments
- 10)Sustainable Finance:by developing and maintaining sustainable funding strategies.
Membership
Fellows of the Academy are drawn from among very senior Nigerian and foreign engineering professionals who have distinguished themselves in business, academia and government. Fellows are drawn from the widest spread as regards engineering discipline, occupation and geographical location.
To be eligible for fellowship,a person being a registered engineer (COREN or its equivalent) and a Fellow of the NSE or its equivalent, shall qualify as a Fellow; if substantial contributions or accomplishments have been made by that person in one or more of the following categories:-
- (1) pioneering of new and developing field of technology, engineering knowledge or engineering sciences;
- (ii) Significant contribution to the art and practice of engineering;
- (iii)A candidate shall be recognized by his/ her professional peers for accomplishment in engineering and engineering related disciplines as well as professional integrity.Effectiveness and efficiency in leadership of organizations that have conducted pioneering or complex programmes or that have made noteworthy contributions to the field of engineering education shall be considered as supplementing the primary qualifications outlined above.
Persons, who, not being registered engineers, have in the opinion of Council made distinguished contributions to the practice ofengineering shall be eligible for election as Honorary Fellows.
Engineers who are not Nigerian nationals, but are in the opinion of Council, of international distinction shall be eligible for election as Foreign Fellows.
There are as at May 2024, 177 Fellows and 3 Honorary Fellows in the Academy.
Mode of Operation
The Academy employs several means of generating and communicating policy ideas, advice,and recognition in the promotion of advancement and excellence in the practice of engineering and technology.
These include:
- Learned discourses and position papers
- Meetings Forums,Lectures
- Sponsorships offoreign travels and of distinguished foreign visitors
- Scholarshipsand Awards
- Relevant studies and programmes.