Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has launched the First Nigerian Concrete Mix Manual as a guide for stakeholders and all that may be involved in engineering activities on appropriate processes for producing good concrete.
This is to check the increasing rate of building collapse in the country which has caused untold loss of lives and properties in recent times.
The manual was jointly presented to the public at the 26th COREN Engineering Assembly held in Abuja which began on Monday and comes to an end today with a dinner by the Chairman of the occasion, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura alongside the representative of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onuh, the representative of the Chief Host, the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the President of COREN, Engr Kashim Abdul Ali and other diginitaries.
Also Read: Lassa Fever Outbreak Kills 2 In Lagos
In his welcome address, the COREN President stated that in a bid to ensure standard products, the council has reviewed the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) for accreditation of engineering undergraduate programmes in tertiary institutions which was announced at last year’s assembly to make it outcome based in conformity with global standards while carrying out accreditation of such programmes.
“Going forward therefore, our accreditation processes will now be based on Outcome Based Engineering Engineering Education (OBE) criteria,” he stressed.
He said following the sending of the BMAS to UNESCO and other science based international bodies for review which turned out positive, Nigerian engineers duly registered by COREN now enjoy mutual recognition in 48 countries of the world.
The COREN boss said the hammer is set to come down on any institution that fall short of the laid down standards, adding that even as COREN acknowledges the need to increase access to tertiary education for the youth, it must mor be fone at the éxpense of quality education considering the strategic role of engineering in society.
Speaking, Governor Al-Makura urged COREN to urgently evaluating and acknowledging the “gap-filling” role being player artesans whom he said, though unrecognised and know little or nothing about standards, are everywhere taking over the engineering work with a view to integrating them through short term training.
According to him, “that will go a long way in reducing cases of self-acclaimed, pseudo engineers and encourage local content, thereby adding vale to the economy.”
He also charge COREN to address what he described as lingering trends of irregular certification and deficiency in ICT which he said hás continued to affect Best practices.
