Institution reunites with elders for improved performance

 

 

The Nigeria Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) Lagos Chapter, has reunited with the elders of the Institution to deliberate on how best to grow the profession and the nation’s infrastructure development.

The Chairman of NICE, Mrs Lola Adetona gave the assertion during a reunion with elders ceremony organised by the Institution in Lagos.

The theme of the reunion was: ” Our NICE, Our Expectations”.

Adetona said the motive for the reunion was  to bring the elders and pioneers of the Institution together to synergise, advise, mentor and give directions on how to move the profession and the economy forward.

“The essence of the reunion is to bring the elders and some pioneers of the Institution who were previously active but due to health issues, age or relocation decided to step down for the younger ones to run affairs of the Institution.

“The reunion will create an avenue for elders to interact, collaborate, synergise, mentor and give direction on how best to grow the the institution and the economy at large.

“Let us ultilise the reunion to learn, network and collaborate to improve in our various areas of practice and equally reposition the infrastructure development the economy,” he said.

Speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of NICE, Sen. Femi Kila, called for improvements in infrastructural development in the country, to boost the living standards.

Kila said this could be achieved through collective efforts and collaboration among governments, engineering operators, the private sector and other stakeholders in the country.

He said that for the economy to be sustained, the infrastructural development of the country must be put in order.

According to him, engineers have vital roles in the infrastructure development of a country, hence, he enjoined operators in industry to seize opportunity of the reunion to grow the profession.

“We must make engineering and infrastructural development a priority in the development of our economy.

“Infrastructure have been confirmed as the main drivers of the economy of many developed nations, with significant multiplier effects that catalyze growth in consumption, employment, investment and tourism.

“Let us ultilise the reunion to learn, network and collaborate to improve in our various areas of practice and equally reposition the nation’s infrastructure development,” Kila said.

Also speaking, a past National Chairman of the Institution, Mr James Owivry, urged the Federal Government to award large-scale engineering projects to Nigerian engineers to boost local content in the building industry.

Owivry said that awarding major engineering projects to Nigerian engineers would create more jobs for local engineers and improve their skills and professional development.

“Placing the local engineers at the forefront of intensive projects would broaden their knowledge and understanding about the profession.

“And as a challenge, it would make them go extra mile to acquire the skills and equipment needed for execution of intensive projects,” he said.

Another Past National Chairman of NICE, Mr Olugbenga Lawal, urged the government to support local engineers to invest more in equipment to enable them compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.

Lawal identified stable government policy, environmental security and easy access to credit facilities as other factors required to boost the competence of Nigerian engineers.

“Though the foreign contractors have the technology, skill, resources and machinery, I believe Nigeria engineers can do better if the facilities are made available to them.

“In advanced countries, Engineers are given special grants and an enabling environment to research about their profession and bring out lasting solutions to problems of technology in the country.

“Therefore, better performance of the Nigeria engineers depends largely on the level of government support,” Lawal said.