DELSU, COREN, NSE Induct 282 Graduate Engineers

Delta State University (DELSU), Oleh Campus, in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has inducted 282 graduate engineers at its maiden oath-taking and induction ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The ceremony, held at the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, marked a significant milestone in the professional journey of the newly inducted engineers.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samuel Asagba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Engr. Prof. Hilary Owamah, said the administration was committed to repositioning the Faculty of Engineering and strengthening academic activities at the institution.

He said the Vice-Chancellor had made the development of the faculty a priority and was determined to provide the necessary facilities and equipment to improve teaching, learning and practical training.

Owamah assured that the university would continue to support the faculty in providing quality engineering education and preparing students to meet the demands of the profession.

In his address, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, Engr. Prof. K.M. Oghenejoboh, charged the newly inducted engineers to uphold the ethics and standards of the profession, stressing that integrity, competence, honesty, discipline and accountability must guide their conduct.

He described the induction as an important step in their professional development, urging them to recognise the responsibilities that come with being members of a profession critical to national development.

Oghenejoboh also highlighted the opportunities available to Nigerian engineering graduates through the country's membership of the Washington Accord, noting that it provides a pathway for graduates from accredited engineering programmes to have their qualifications recognised in other member countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.

He urged the graduates to deploy their knowledge and skills towards addressing national challenges, particularly in infrastructure development, sustainable energy, transportation, manufacturing, digital transformation and environmental protection.

The President of COREN, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, represented by the Chairman of the Delta State Technical Committee on Engineering Regulations Monitoring, Engr. Solomon A. Aghagba, called on universities offering engineering programmes to maintain high academic standards and equip their graduates with the skills required to compete globally.

Aghagba, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Works, disclosed that about 123 universities in Nigeria offer engineering education through more than 622 programmes.

He said the country's available educational resources, if properly harnessed, could support the production of at least 15,000 engineering graduates across different fields.

According to him, COREN has developed a checklist in line with international best practices to guide engineering education and ensure that students meet the required academic and professional standards throughout their training.

He reaffirmed the council's commitment to helping DELSU achieve the benchmarks of the Washington Accord through training, capacity development, accreditation and other quality assurance initiatives.

Aghagba said stronger collaboration between regulatory bodies, professional associations and universities was necessary to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and industry expectations.

He explained that such partnerships would ensure that engineering graduates acquire the practical knowledge, competence and proficiency needed to function effectively in the workplace.

He commended DELSU for its contributions to academic development and congratulated the inductees, urging them to remain committed to the responsibilities and ethical demands of their profession.

Also speaking, Engr. Goodluck Ohwodo, who represented the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, expressed satisfaction with the successful induction of the 282 graduates.

He urged the inductees to complete their registration with COREN, explaining that obtaining the appropriate registration was essential to their professional development and eventual practice as registered engineers.

Ohwodo reminded them that engineering was governed by established ethical standards and regulations, which they must understand and respect throughout their careers.

He further charged the young engineers to see themselves as ambassadors of the profession and conduct themselves in ways that would promote public confidence in engineering, stressing the need for diligence, integrity and professionalism.

Delivering the keynote lecture, titled "Ethical Issues and the Prospects of Young Engineers in an AI Generation," Owamah cautioned the graduates against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence in their academic and professional activities.

He acknowledged that AI could simplify tasks and provide useful information but warned that it could not replace the professional judgement, integrity and personal responsibility required of engineers.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor also challenged the inductees to make effective use of their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme by seeking opportunities to apply their engineering knowledge and gain practical experience.

He urged them to be confident in their abilities and avoid restricting their service experience to classroom teaching when opportunities existed to participate in engineering-related assignments.

Owamah stressed that the future of the profession would depend not only on technical expertise but also on the character, ethical values and practical competence of the next generation of engineers.