THE
NIGERIAN ENGINEER AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT By ENGR.
ALI A. RABIU, FNSE (CIGARIN
LAFIA)
1.0 ENGINEERING, ITS DIVERSIFICATION AND DYNAMISM
1.1
Engineering
Engineering
has been defined as the art or science of making practical application of
knowledge of pure sciences as physics or chemistry, as in construction of
engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships and chemical plants. It is also the
application of knowledge in all spheres of human endeavour.
1.2 DIVERSIFICATION
An Engineer
therefore, is a person trained and skilled in the design, construction and use
of engines or machines or in the various
branches of engineering. Some of which
are Aeronautical, Agriculture, Automotive, Chemical, Civil,
Electrical/Electronics, Environmental, Geotechnical, Industrial, Marine,
Mechanical, Metallurgical, Petroleum, Structural, Engineering Valuation and
Cost Engineering, Water, Genetics, and the list goes on.
1.3 DYNAMISM
Through research
and developments, new engineering inventions and processes, are discovered on
almost daily basis. New trends and
developments in the telecommunication, electronic and systems engineering
sub-sectors today are as a result of research.
They are all engineering and technology applications. Every year, cars with new designs and
features, almost monthly, new phones with various capabilities are
launched. New and more advance air
planes of various uses are rolled out.
Engineering is thus very dynamic.
Engineering is creativity and affects every facet of development in
unlimited number of fields.
2.0 THE NIGERIAN ENGINEERING PIONEERS IN
THEIR KEY SECTORS
Our Pioneers in
engineering include Herbert Heelas Macaulay (1893) who is regarded as the doyen
of Nigerian Engineers. He was a civil
engineer who practiced Land Surveying which is only part of his training. He finally made his mark as a nationalist in
politics where he is regarded as the father of modern Nigerian Politics.
Other university
graduate engineers that followed were George ‘Debayo Agbebi (1911) Ishola Philips
(1930), Robert O Staverley (1934) Adekunle Coker (1934), Oladotun Coker (1935)
Ekundayo Ajayi (1936) and Adeniyi Williams (1936)
Engr. Chief
Adeniyi Williams (President, NSE 1959-62) had a successful civil service career
where he retired as Chief Engineer from the University of Ibadan in the 1970s. Another Past President, Engr. Igiehon, FNSE
succeeded him and retired from the same Institution. (Oyeleye October lecture,
14 October 1988)
The next group
of engineers did not qualify until the late 40s partly because of the 2nd
World war (1939-1945) and partly because of lack of effective utilization of
Nigerian Engineers, which discouraged enrolment in engineering in the first place.
These engineers
were substantially graduates of Yaba Higher College, which was established in
1934, and later went abroad to qualify.
They were mainly civil Engineers, the most senior of them was Mr. Iweka
(1946). At independence in 1960, we had
directors of works, Engr. S. O. Williams (Lagos) Engr. (Dr) T. M. Aluko
(Ibadan) Mr. Uzodike (Enugu) and an expatriate, Mr. Jones (Kaduna).(Oyeleye
October lecture, 14 October 1988)
The three Nigerians, (Williams, Aluko &
Uzodike) according to records, enjoyed some measure of understanding. They enjoyed the respect of their politician
contemporaries. They were professionals
with wide experience. The then strong
civil service tradition of respect for sound professional advice and the fact
that the previous expatriate Directors of works were members of the Government
at cabinet level was of great assistance to them. Their areas of contribution were on road
construction, water supply and government housing development. The later generation of civil engineers
(Fadahunsi, Akande, Usman, Osili, Uzodike, and later Otobo) built the tradition
of excellence in the civil service.
The Nigerian
Railways was the citadel of Mechanical Engineering before independence. Where another former NSE President, J.C.
Egbuna and FAO Philips set records.
Engr. Dr. Demola
Banjo and Engr. M.N.A. Manafa (Manafa Power) another Past President of NSE,
were Pioneers in the Electricity
Industry. They were of high quality
and caliber.
In education, the likes of Prof.
Oladapo, Prof Adekola, Prof Orangun, Prof. V. A. Williams, Prof Owolabi, Prof
Enahoro, Prof Kuale, Prof Makanjuola, Prof Ogunye and a host of others made
their indelible marks.
In design and consultancy, Obi Obembe
& Associates, Enplan Group, Yolas Consultants, Ette Aro & Partners,
Yaroson & Partners, Teckno Consults and a host of others have their
footprints printed on the sand of times.
In the telecommunications sectors,
Engr. V.A. Haffner, Engr. A.A. Bodede, Engr. Teju Oyeleye (Past President)
Engr. V. I. Maduka (Past President) and others, were the success stories.
In effect, the
Nigerian Engineer made impact in all facets of our national development.
3.0 NATIONAL
PLANNING & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A nation that
wishes to develop must necessarily be guided by a National Plan. National Planning is thus a step by step
method and process of defining, developing and outlining various possible
courses of action to meet existing or future needs, goals and objectives for a
country or a large body of people associated with a particular territory, often
sharing similar ethnic backgrounds, customs and language (Source: RHW/BLD)
A national Plan
must of necessity cover all aspects of a country’s development programme. Nigeria’s past development planning would be
classified under four phases. The first
can be described as the:
i.
Colonial Era
ii.
Era of fixed-term planning (1962-85).
iii.
Era of Rolling Plan (1990 -1998) and the
iv.
New Democratic Dispensation (1999 till
date)
There exists
between these periods some years dominated by sporadic government actions and
ad-hoc planning in which the country did not actually produce a plan document
that could be categorized into the four periods mentioned. These periods represent times of major socio-political
upheaval and economic crises that necessitated transitory and sporadic actions
from the incumbent administrations.
National
Development is a process integrated to National Planning. A country must know where it wants to be at a
particular time, plan strategy to get there, execute the plans with all
resources so earmarked for the achievements of the goals. The National Planning process begins with
research into a country’s development indices.
3.1 Systems Principles of how we plan include
- Integration
and Coordination- Combining and rationalizing structures, functions, policies
and processes under a clear set of rules to produce a coherent, integrated
outcome. Integration can be vertical
combining and rationalizing higher order and subsidiary systems e.g. hierarchy
of plans or horizontal integrating different aspects of single system e.g. a
State government.
- Certainty
– Consistency regarding the conditions under which development will proceed,
the rate and scale at which it will take place and the way planning principles
and mechanisms will be applied.
- Responsiveness
– The flexibility needed to respond to changing or unforeseen circumstances.
- Equity
– Fairness, such as protection of personal rights, equity access to appeal
mechanisms and procedures that do not discriminate against individuals or
groups.
- Efficiency,
Effectiveness, and Economy – No unnecessary processes and governance
arrangement etc.
- Community
Engagement – Promotion of community engagement including consultation,
participation and increased community understanding and support for planning
processes.
3.2 What issues should be addressed through
planning?
Basic issues in
National Planning must include but not limited to Urban form, Infrastructure
Coordination, Social Equity, Environmental Protection and restoration, Resource
Management and security, Housing choice and affordability and Sustainable
transport. All these have their foundation in engineering, No wonder
engineering has been described as all encompassing that there is no single
structure on this earth that is man-
made which is not tied directly to it. By his
training therefore, engineer ought to be at the fore of National Planning, with
economists, statistician etc.
In development,
critical infrastructure is key. In this regard, we mean roads, rails, aerodromes,
water supply, education, power supply, environment, agriculture,
transportation, tourism development, hospital development, housing, etc are all
engineering based with other services supportive. So if those who have the know-how are not
piloting the development plans, who should?
4.0 INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE
PRINCIPLE OF THE RULE OF LAW
4.1 Institutional
Development;
Some of the
negations of the Past Development Plans in Nigeria have been due to the fact
that individuals, rather than institutions matter. A well thought-out plan (indeed all of
Nigeria’s Plan, have been well thought- out) would just be shoved aside by a
new ruler or a new set of rulers due to political, ethnic, religious or some
other self-serving considerations. Every
consideration in this country is looked at through the lenses of politics,
ethnicity, religion, regionalism, just name it.
When a crime is committed, for instance, rather than the law to take its
course, considerations would be on other mundane things. Uncommon greed is fuelling corruption to
frightening heights. Unfortunately, we
have also reduced corruption to only when money changes hands. A person who rigs elections, someone who
promotes nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, the man who promotes violence
etc. are all guilty of corruption. These
vices violate the basic principles of human nature and are therefore the worst
forms of corruption.
4.2 The
Rule of Law;
The Rule of Law pre-supposes
that no one is above the law. That the
law in all cases guides our actions as members of a state. There are penalties for violations to be
interpreted by the courts. No individual
has the power to put aside the provisions of the law except the law in that
regard says so. Not even the President
of a country. This is the case in
developed countries that explains why if a National Development Plan is passed
into law, no successive government alters its contents without due reference to
the law. That has not been the case in our
dear country. Those who emerge as
leaders, do their thing their own way and since no one holds them accountable
for their actions, even their consciences, they get away leaving the country,
worse than they met it. Worse still, out
of office, they are still glorified for “helping themselves”. Bottom-line, we have over the years been
saddled with inert leadership.
The Nigerian
Engineer in National Development should show interest in how the Institutions
are developed over and above individuals’ interest by making it a point of duty
to make her opinion known on such issues at all times.
5.0 THE NIGERIAN ENGINEER IN GOVERNMENT
In Nigeria, the
control of government at the centre, often referred to as the Federal
Government, is the ultimate to Nigerian Politicians. In a country of nearly 150 million people
with a near zero manufacturing base, in proportion to population of course,
everyone looks to the Federal Government and the Federal Government
budget. It explains why Nigeria is
literally “closed down” between January and whenever the budget is
“released”. Sometimes it’s even up to
June.
Major
appointments are made by government in Federal and State establishments. While the Minister of Justice must be a
lawyer, Minister of Health, a Medical Doctor (Not even a Dentist or Veterinary
Doctor), the Minister of Finance, a business-based discipline, the Minister of
Works could be any body. In today’s
Federal Executive Council, we have the
Minister of Communication and only recently the Minister of Power an engineer,
joined the Council. You want to ask how
a country that is developing can plan and execute the plans without the
professional input of its engineers when all development is 90% engineering?
How can a country that wants to develop and literally in competition with
others, go to the same competitors to draft its development programmes? ABUJA was conceptualized and designed outside
the shores of Nigeria with little or no input of Nigerian Engineers. So with several other projects; past and present. Most engineers whose appointments are heard
are first politicians. The supply of
technocrats can only be effectively handled through relevant professional
bodies, because then, they are accountable to the professional bodies for
performance. Appointed on self
recognition, the opposite is true.
5.1 Where
is the Nigerian Engineer Today? Who is to blame?
To answer these questions, one needs to do a passionate analysis.
The Nigerian
Engineer today is truly in bad shape.
Both the Nigerian Engineer and Government are to blame. But more the government. The Government is in charge of policy. Even in developed countries, the government creates
the environment where its citizens function.
A favourably operating environment is created through policy framework.
For example and to be specific here, if Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd was completed as
planned, along with Delta Steel Co. Ltd and if other inland Steel Rolling Mills
were functional, the Steel Sector would thrive.
There would be reduced importation, jobs would be created and the
relevant down-stream industries would come into existence. Steel Development is a critical
infrastructure for any country, talk less of developing countries like Nigeria
with enormous market potentials.
Another example
is the Petrochemical Industry. These are
sectors with huge potentials for industrial growth due to their multiplier
effects.
Nigeria
currently spends trillions in doubtful “fuel subsidies”. Construction of refineries, even if joint
ventures, would provide jobs in millions directly and indirectly. The fuel refined will have a market at home
and some for export. Even our poorer neighbors successfully build and operate
refineries. In the 21st
century, we are inviting foreigners to run our utilities in the name of
investors and in the process, throw out our Citizens into the already
overloaded labour market. Why can’t we
find out what is wrong and employ the necessary political will to solve it?
We have been
wobbling politically from pillar to post since 1960. Have we asked the British or Americans or
even Japanese to come and run our government? Just because we have been
fumbling?
On the other
hand, the Nigerian Engineer does not make his presence felt by accident or by
design. He knows that all decisions are
taken at the highest office. Those who
venture unfortunately go there as politicians not as professionals. They are contented with personal gains as
opposed to working for common good. They
patronize themselves and their relations.
They will even keep their President (NSE) waiting when on a visit. When he invites them, they will not honour
the invitation. They will never identify
with their professional body. When they
are out they become like fish out of water.
At the lower level, everyone wants to be a consultant. No venture in manufacturing even at cottage
level meanwhile opportunities abound in a country flowing with milk and honey.
5.2 The
problems of the Nigerian Engineer;
The Nigerian
Engineer has obvious limitations. A good
number, self created. An average Nigerian Engineer is not a good mixer. He fails to know that the whole of creation
is inter-dependent and that synergy has tremendous potentials. Self – centredness and greed are a serious
limitation.
The average
Nigerian Engineer does not believe in knowledge enhancement. They don’t want to have anything to do with
management, accountancy, public relations, human resource development etc.
forgetting one who fails to be diverse, is highly restricted.
On the other
hand, because of his operating environment that limits him, he tends to limit
himself. Because there is no government
work, the world must come to an end; when as a matter of fact, education is
about exposure and engineering in particular, is the cornerstone of
creation. Look around and create
opportunities for yourself.
5.3 Influx
of Chinese , other Asians and Arabs
Nigeria drives
many other economies. In other words,
many countries on the surface of the globe, survive because of Nigeria. As if that was not enough, the Chinese,
Other Asians, Arabs, South Africans etc are taking over almost everything in
Nigeria from construction, telecoms to retail trading and even driving.
Billions are
repatriated weekly out of this country from activities that Nigerians can and
should, handle with the right policies in place. It is a very normal policy for a country to
protect its citizens in all ramifications.
When it would be too late, we will then wake from our deep slumber.
5.4 The
Nigerian Content Initiative
The Nigerian
Content Initiative which has its origins from the Oil Sector, and which should
be extended to all other sectors, is an initiative meant to stem the ugly tide. But all these without the political will to
implement same to the letter, would be another waste of time-and opportunities.
5.5 The
Role of Corruption;
Engineering
Regulation Monitoring is part of the law of the Council for the Regulation of
Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). The law
is very clear on how engineering should be carried out in the country, who
should do what, who should be where in Engineering etc. The Government White
Paper on the Strategic Plans for Engineering Development and Control in Nigeria
published in October 2005 is a beautiful document by all intents and purposes.
The same
government that enacted the law in the first place, is not keen in its
implementation because of interests of the officials. It is like that in every facet of our
national life. There is selective and
discriminate implementation of laws, rules and regulations depending on what
interest is to be protected, when all must be subject to the rule of law. This
is Nigeria‘s problem which is at the root of every other problem. Corruption seems to be reduced to only money
exchanging hands. But it must not be
so. If a government fails to enforce its
own laws, it is the worst form of corruption because it gives room for
abuses. A politician who manipulates the
system in any form is corrupt etc. Laws
therefore must not only be enforced but must be seen to be enforced.
5.6 Capacity
Building;
Formal education
prepares a candidate for the future challenges inherent in daily living. Continuous development of the individual so
prepared depends on his or her disposition to life and living. It is important to realize that continuous
education is investment in self.
Engineering is very dynamic where daily changes are recorded around the
globe, in critical areas of life. Capacity building is therefore the continuous
updating of engineering knowledge through attendance of courses, conferences,
workshops, symposia and also on the internet.
It also entails upgrading learning equipment, libraries and laboratories
for the latest discoveries. This is
necessary otherwise an engineer risks becoming archaic. Capacity building could be a deliberate
policy decision by government or organizations or both. Capacity building is very pertinent in
engineering and it is a very positive policy thrust.
In view of the
foregoing, it is recommended that adequate training and retraining of skilled
manpower necessary for a vibrant engineering sector should be pursed with
vigour at all times. There should be concerted efforts in the following areas:
i)
Engineering
Curriculum:
(a)
The accreditation bodies and educational
institutions, in consultation with professional bodies and industry should
ensure regular review of engineering curricula, preferably every 5 years: to
take cognizance of technological changes- the needs of Industry and changing
national priorities.
(b)
Council for the Regulation of Engineering in
Nigeria (COREN) should ensure implementation of the one year mandatory SITSIE
programme for fresh engineering University graduates and HND holders before
they are presented for the NYSC scheme.
(c)
In line with current trends, engineering
curricula should include standardized mandatory information technology (IT)
modules.
ii)
Facilities
(a)
That educational institution, COREN, NUC and
NBTE should ensure that faculties of engineering in tertiary institutions are
equipped with minimum acceptable facilities including staffing, classroom,
laboratories and workshops.
(b)
NDE in collaboration with IDCs, TICs, NCAM
should ensure that the facilities available at these and other similar publicly
funded projects are put to use for the re-training/additional preparation of the
teeming number of the unemployed engineering graduates and technologists to
facilitate their self-employment.
(c)
Need
to equip training institutions for laboratory work and workshops at all levels
of training.
(d)
Need to establish centers of excellent where
people go to receive training for apprenticeship and specific trades
(e)
Need for industries to provide facilities at
tertiary institutions for students to have practical knowledge of the real life
situations
iii)
Post -Institutional
Training
(a)
The NYSC enrollment for graduate engineers and
technologists should be tied to the completion of the mandatory one year SITSIE
programme.
(b)
COREN should ensure that admission of students,
graduate engineers and technologists from particular institutions to the SITSIE
programme is tied to the capacity of available training facilities in those
institutions.
(c)
The
Engineering Endowment Fund (EEF) as canvassed in the Presidential Committee’s
report on strategic plan on Engineering development and control should be
established as an intervention scheme.
(d)
The ITF programme should be refocused primarily
to funding the work experience in science and engineering students in the
industry
iv)
Staffing
(a)
NUC and NBTE should put in place appropriate
machinery to ensure that engineering staff recruited in tertiary institutions
is a good mix of people possessing relevant academic and industrial experience.
(b)
To stem the tide of brain drain in the
Universities and Polytechnics an enabling environment appropriate incentives
should be provided for engineering academic and technical staff in tertiary
institutions
(c)
That as
a matter of priority, Government should increase the budget for R & D as a
percentage of GDP in line with UNESCO’s recommendation.
(d)
That Government should ensure that local
contents, R&D and training are included in the criteria for the award of
Public Sector contracts of N1.0 billion and above.
(e)
Government should make the conditions of Service
of technologists, technicians, craftsmen, artisans, attractive to retain their
services in their cadre
(f)
Relevant Ministries, Departments,
Parastatals and agencies of Government, particularly, Ministries of Science
& Technology, Education, Agriculture, Communication and Industry should
support the periodic exhibitions by tertiary institutions, research institutes
and industries to create avenue for dissemination of successful R & D .
(Source: Government White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Committee on
Strategic Plans for Engineering Development & Control in Nigeria, October
2005)
5.7 What
does the future hold for the Nigerian Engineer?
The answer to
this question lies with us, “the engineers”.
Engineers must not wait to see what the future has for them. Engineers should decide what the future
should have for them. Engineering is about
creativity. Here pro-activity is very
imperative. Nigerian engineers should
put on their thinking caps and retreat into strategic thinking with a view to
deciding what the future should be. Pertinent areas to consider are small
scale/cottage industries, the power sector, agriculture, pulp and paper,
housing development, education to name only a few.
6.0 EPILOGUE:
The Nigerian
Engineer will be judged harshly by posterity if he fails to provide leadership
for a Nation in dire need of leadership.
Engineers often blame politicians
for appointing non-engineers to engineering positions. But the few that have found themselves in
positions of authority rarely identify with the engineering profession,
talkless of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
We all need a
rethink. We need to change the way we
view life. We need to realize that a
life of service to others gives us more satisfaction than if we focused on
ourselves and on our families alone. We
need to realize that synergy is valuing differences. We need to realize that by coming together we
will produce more for everyone.
Our problem they
say, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
Bibliography
1. Oyeleye,
Teju, The Wisdom of Nigerian Engineers
(1980-1988) October Lecture 14th
October, 1988
2. Meshida, S. O. The Wisdom of Nigerian Engineers (1980-1988) October Lecture 10th October 1986
3. Government White Paper on Report of the Presidential Committee on Strategic Plans for Engineering Development and Control October 2005
Travis Brodberry & Jean Greaves, Leadership 2.0. 2012
2. Meshida, S. O. The Wisdom of Nigerian Engineers (1980-1988) October Lecture 10th October 1986
3. Government White Paper on Report of the Presidential Committee on Strategic Plans for Engineering Development and Control October 2005
Travis Brodberry & Jean Greaves, Leadership 2.0. 2012
5. Covey,
R. Stephen The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People (1989)
6. The
Abuja Master Plan
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