By Godswill Michael
Engineering stakeholders across the North-West converged in Kano recently for a regional summit convened by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
The gathering focused on addressing substandard materials, building collapses, and the growing threat of quackery in the profession.
In his keynote address, COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, said the summit marked a decisive shift from dialogue to concrete 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 stated.
Abubakar outlined key reforms, including stronger regulation and enforcement through Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E), new disciplinary panels and tribunals to punish offenders, and collaborations with law enforcement to crack down on quackery.
He noted that sector-specific strategies would be introduced to ensure engineering practices in manufacturing, agriculture, and housing align with global standards.
COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie Uche, commended the North-West Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for its role in decentralizing regulation.
He explained that the Council’s reforms were designed to strengthen Outcome-Based Engineering Education (OBE), institutionalize the Engineering Residency Programme (ERP), and make Continuous Professional Development (CPD) mandatory for practitioners.
“Regulation cannot be effective without active engagement and cooperation with the stakeholders. Our strength lies in partnerships that drive sustainable engineering excellence,” he said.
Chairman of the North-West RSC, Engr. Habu Gumel, represented by Engr. Ibrahim Maimaje, described the Committee as a milestone in COREN’s decentralization 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 said.
Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr. Marwan Ahmed, applauded COREN’s developmental strides and pledged the state government’s support for the Council’s roadmap.
A highlight of the event was the inauguration of the North-West RSC, mandated to enforce compliance at state and zonal levels, support COREN’s reforms, and strengthen grassroots regulation.
Dignitaries from Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States attended, alongside academics and industry leaders.
The summit concluded with technical sessions led by Engr. Olaolu Ogunduyile, FNSE, FNIEEE, where stakeholders engaged policymakers on pathways to safer practices and stronger regulation. The gathering signaled a new era in the fight against engineering failures and quackery in the North-West and across Nigeria.
