The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged consulting engineers to seek collaboration opportunities, promote knowledge sharing, and advance consulting engineering practices in Nigeria.
This call was made during the 45th Annual Conference of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria in Abuja.
Minister Wike emphasized the significance of harnessing the expertise of consulting engineers to address the challenges in Nigeria’s infrastructure development. The goal is to ensure that infrastructure adheres to the highest standards, aligns with international best practices, and positions Nigeria for effective global competition.
He highlighted that Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a tremendous opportunity for the country, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between engineering professionals and the government.
“As a government, we are committed to creating an enabling environment for consulting engineers to thrive. We are eager to work with ACEN to streamline regulatory processes, ensure fair and transparent procurement procedures, and provide support for research and innovation in the field,” stated Minister Wike.
Earlier, President Ajibade Oke explained that the Annual Conference provides an opportunity to evaluate and discuss the Association’s role in the Nigerian economy.
“We will convey messages to governments at all levels on how their policies impact our businesses and how we can contribute to a better country and the sustainability of our nation’s infrastructure development,” said Ajibade.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Samson A. Opaluwah, emphasized the importance of strengthened collaborations among professionals. He identified areas such as project collaboration and coordination, capacity building, standardization, and regulation of the built environment where collaboration could yield substantial benefits for the nation.
During the Annual General Meeting with the theme ‘Advancing Consulting Engineering Practice in Nigeria and Collaborating with Government for African Free Trade Benefits,’ Prof. Jonathan Aremu of the National Action Committee on AfCFTA stressed the urgent need for African economic integration.
He added that Nigeria has the potential to become a major player in the African economy, given its market size, human resources, and natural endowments.
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