Jonathan, Akpabio urge NSE to address infrastructure failures, combat quackery at 35th presidential investiture
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have called on the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to intensify efforts in preventing infrastructure collapses and eliminating unqualified practitioners from the profession.
The appeal was made during the investiture of Ali Rabiu as the 35th President of the NSE, a ceremony attended by top government officials, traditional rulers, professional bodies, and stakeholders in Abuja.
Jonathan, speaking through former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, emphasized the critical role of engineers in national development.
He noted that the safety and reliability of roads, bridges, power systems, and digital networks are fundamental to Nigeria’s economic growth and social stability.
“Repeated structural failures have led to significant loss of lives and property.
”While natural disasters may occur, professional negligence remains a major factor.
“This imposes a moral and regulatory responsibility on the NSE and COREN to enforce strict compliance and proactive oversight, ” Jonathan said.
He added that curbing quackery and upholding high professional standards is not just a regulatory requirement but a moral obligation to safeguard public trust and lives.
Jonathan urged the new president to lead a drive toward a more resilient and accountable engineering profession.
Senate President Akpabio, represented by Senator Patrick Ndubueze of Imo North, reaffirmed the essential role of engineers in building and maintaining national infrastructure.
He praised the NSE for operating transparently and resisting political interference over the years.
Akpabio highlighted recent infrastructure failures, including building and bridge collapses, and urged the Society to intensify attention on safety, discipline, and enforcement of professional standards.
Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh also addressed the investiture, describing engineering as a public trust.
He stressed that every infrastructure project contributes to national productivity, social stability, and public safety.
Momoh encouraged engineers to operate with integrity, placing sustainability, resilience, and public welfare at the center of practice, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Outgoing NSE President Margaret Oguntala, the first female to hold the position, reflected on her tenure as a period of consolidation, capacity-building, and promoting inclusiveness.
She congratulated Rabiu, expressing confidence that his leadership would further strengthen the Society.
In his inaugural address, Ali Rabiu promised to uphold ethical standards, reinforce regulatory oversight, and reposition the NSE as a strategic partner in national development.
“My administration will focus on professionalism, safety, and institutional reforms, building an NSE that sets standards, drives innovation, and delivers tangible value,” he said.
