Engineering Practice and Professionalism in Nigeria

Article on Engineering Training, Practice and Professionalism by AMPEG FOUNDATION TEAM

Introduction:

Engineering training, practice, and professionalism are essential components of the field irrespective of the engineering discipline, ensuring that engineers are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and ethical grounding necessary to create innovative solutions and drive progress while also prioritizing safety, sustainability, and social responsibility.

ENGINEERING TRAINING

Engineering is the application of Science to produce results in the development of mankind. Technology refers to the application of Engineering principles and Practice to provide solutions to human challenge. In the course of one’s life, it is imperative that knowledge is acquired for the individual to contribute positively in the chosen area of study or career. Education or Educational Curricula for a Course of Profession is a carefully thought out systematic calendar to train and develop someone to become worthy in character and learning, competent and earn a living and beyond by carrying out services in the course of study and post-graduation. It is therefore imperative to know that the academic Calendar approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission is adequate to produce competent engineers to contribute to Nation Building.

ENGINEEERING PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISM

After Graduate Training, the next thing for an Engineer is to choose from his / her area of Study specific unit or line(s) to develop oneself into becoming a professional or an expat. One cannot carry Engineering Degree for 10 years looking for a job of an Engineer. In the job requirement there is usually area of specialization, Maintenance etc in the job description. This implies that if a person is not developed or trained in a specific area, the person cannot grow to provide specific services over time that will make him an expat in that field. Who is an expat or expatriate? An expat is someone who has studied and developed himself to know something about everything and everything about something in a specific area. Take the Oil & Gas Construction Industry for example; the Expat in Piping Design knows everything adequate to design the piping systems of a process plant and Pipeline into and out of facility. He also knows something about all the direct works associated with building the plant from Engineering to Ready For StartUp (RFSU). These things that make this person an expatriate are not taught in school directly. It’s the capacity to develop into specific professional that are deposited into the individual in study years at school. The more expats we have, the more we can contribute to the development of our nation. It is therefore imperative that any graduate engineer who has not chosen an area to develop into becoming an expat or professional, to do so now.

Therefore, it is very important for Engineers in developing country like Nigeria to continuously enroll in educational programs of the body of Engineers known as Nigeria Society of Engineers continuous learning program and their government regulating body known as Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria annual conference. These engagements will surely enhance their knowledge and at the same time make them relevant in the competitive job market.

Engineering training, practice, and professionalism are crucial aspects of the field, regardless of the engineering specialization. These ensure that engineers possess the necessary expertise, knowledge, and ethical principles to develop innovative solutions that prioritize safety, sustainability, and social responsibility. This is essential in advancing progress and maintaining the integrity of the profession.

Finally, there is huge untapped opportunities for engineers in Nigeria because of too many infrastructural deficits, abundant mineral resources with inclusive of massive crude and gas deposits that needs the services of engineers.