The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, has called on engineers nationwide to embrace innovation and digital tools in supporting government efforts to tackle Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
Rabiu made the appeal during a webinar held to commemorate the 2026 World Engineering Day, themed “Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future through Innovation and Digitalisation.”
He explained that smart engineering entails integrating advanced technologies with creative design processes to deliver efficient, interconnected and sustainable systems. According to him, such approaches can provide practical responses to insecurity while also improving national competitiveness.
Rabiu noted that safety conditions and regulatory stability play a decisive role in shaping Nigeria’s global investment profile and business environment. He warned that continued security gaps could weaken economic growth, reduce foreign direct investment, limit job creation and erode public confidence in governance.
The NSE president emphasised that engineers remain central to nation-building and must contribute actively to building a stable economic foundation. He expressed satisfaction at the strong participation of young engineers, describing them as vital to the future of both the profession and the country.
He added that the Society would continue to strengthen the capacity of young professionals to ensure they remain globally competitive. Rabiu encouraged them to think creatively, advance technical excellence and uphold institutional values that promote professionalism, competence and good governance.
He also commended the roles of UNESCO and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) in sustaining the World Engineering Day platform, describing it as a catalyst for global collaboration and engineering advancement.
In his keynote address, Prof. Hilary Owamah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Delta State University Abraka, said innovation-driven smart engineering remains critical to addressing Nigeria’s development hurdles.
Owamah defined smart engineering as the intelligent fusion of engineering science, digital intelligence, data systems and sustainability principles. He stressed that it enables prediction, adaptation and optimisation in infrastructure and service delivery.
While noting that Nigeria possesses strong engineering talent, he said scaling up innovation, integration and sustainable practices remains essential. He emphasised that sustainability must now be treated as an engineering obligation rather than a policy ambition.
According to him, smart engineering can help mitigate environmental risks through flood-resilient infrastructure, energy optimisation, real-time water monitoring and early detection of structural weaknesses. He urged engineers to shift from reactive approaches to preventive, data-informed solutions.
Owamah further called on universities to produce engineers who are digitally skilled, innovation-oriented and ethically grounded. He encouraged NSE to deepen efforts in digital training, research promotion, policy engagement and global partnerships to secure a sustainable future.