By Funmilola Gboteku/Stellamaris Ashinze
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is partnering with the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT) to sanitise the profession against quackery.
A Senior Engineer and COREN Representative in Lagos, Mr Tomide Akinnawo, made this known during a courtesy visit to the FCFMT, Victoria Island, on Monday in Lagos.
He said that the partnership would give them the opportunity to help the institute ensure that all its engineers were certified members of COREN and not quacks.
“We need to ensure that all the engineers are registered professionals; that way we are sure the students are in safe hands.
“Engineering is the backbone of development in any nation. Therefore, it has to be taken seriously,” he said.
Akinnawo said as members of COREN, it was essential to ensure that quackery and fraudulent practices which had been hindering engineering practice in the society were curbed.
The Provost of the FCFMT, Dr Chuks Onuoha, said that the institute was ready to collaborate with any sister agency and COREN would not be an exception.
Onuoha said that such collaboration would lead to the development of the nation.
”Just as pointed out by COREN that technology or engineering is the bedrock of any development.
”We look forward to a friendly relationship with your agency and also no advice from you regarding how to make our institution better would be disregarded, ” he said.
He also urged the council to assist in registering their students as members of COREN at a subsidised fee.
The Chairman of Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Lagos chapter, Mr Kayode Ibidapo, said that the council was willing to expose the students to more beneficial workshops and trainings about the engineering profession.
“We believe that the technicians and craftsmen in your institution should also not be excluded. They need to attend trainings and workshops to upgrade themselves, ” Ibidapo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COREN is the regulatory body that governs the practice of engineering in Nigeria, while the FCFMT is a monotechnic approved by the National Board for Technical Education.
The College was originally known as the Federal School of Fisheries, established in 1969 as a vocational training institute for Nigeria’s in-shore fishing fleet.
It was upgraded to a technological institution in 1992.
The college offers courses in Fisheries Technology, General Science, Marine Engineering, Nautical Science and Maritime Transport. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi
