Prof. Adisa Bello, former Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has said that the council is working closely with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to eliminate quackery in the country’s engineering sector.
Bello made this known in Bauchi on Monday during a public lecture and magazine launch organized by final-year engineering students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).
He explained that COREN currently operates an Engineering Regulatory Monitoring Unit across 29 states. According to him, individuals found guilty of practicing without proper certification are handed over to ICPC for prosecution.
Tracing the history of the council, Bello noted that COREN was established in 1970, with amendments to its enabling laws in 1992, 2004, and 2018. The 2018 amendment, he emphasized, strengthened the council’s authority to prosecute offenders within the engineering profession.
He warned that anyone practicing engineering without registration would face legal action. “COREN has signed a memorandum of understanding with ICPC to ensure that those who violate professional standards are duly prosecuted,” he added.
Citing examples, Bello recalled the investigation into the collapse of a 21-storey building in Lagos, where some engineers were found culpable and handed over to ICPC. He also recounted a recent case involving a fake academic certificate, which, after ICPC’s investigation, led to prosecution.
Bello, who also lectures at ATBU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, urged tertiary institutions and academics to ensure their engineering programmes are accredited by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and COREN.
In a related presentation, Dr. Ibrahim Ikara, Head of Civil Engineering Department at ATBU, delivered a paper titled “Smart Cities and the Role of Engineering and Technology in Building the Urban Future.”
Ikara, represented by Muhammad Suleiman, stressed that engineers are central to the development of smart cities through the design of sustainable infrastructure, disaster-resilient systems, and environmentally friendly communities.
He highlighted challenges hindering the growth of smart cities in developing nations, including infrastructure deficits, inadequate funding, and low digital literacy levels. He therefore urged policymakers to prioritize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as a pathway to achieving urban development goals.