The association said this on Tuesday, when its officials paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited, Ogun State, as part of programmes for its conference coming up in November.
The ACEN President, Mr. Ibikunle Ogunbayo, said that it was unfortunate that the input of engineers was usually considered by governments and public project managers as the least concern instead of engaging the practitioners from the outset.
He noted that all infrastructural projects, which contributed meaningfully to human life and national development, were generally the handiwork of engineers at one stage or the other.
He said, ”When a small contracting engineer works for government, before he gets paid, he passes through immense hurdles. Engineers in Nigeria are working with one hand tied at the back.
The Chinese firms that our governments patronise, many of them get their government support and they get good loans from their banks. They can now afford to bring artisans from their country.”
Ogunbayo added, ”Now, engineering jobs are no more attractive because banks pay more. The best engineering student will prefer to work in the bank. He does not want to be an engineer after graduation.
”But, it should not be this way. In countries like India, China, Brazil and many more, engineering has proven to be the catalyst that drives development and advancement. Now, even Brazil has started exporting buses into this country, because they made it compulsory that all vehicles used in the country must be assembled there.”
Ogunbayo, who is the Chief Executive Officer, KOA Consultants Limited, debunked claims that local engineers were not good enough.
He noted that buildings that collapsed in the country were not built by engineers, but people who wanted to cut corners.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101028230796
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