By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Felix Odimegwu has called on Engineers in the state to own their profession rather than allowing quacks put the lives of their loved ones in jeopardy in their quest to make money.
Odimegwu gave the charge in Awka, during the closing ceremony cum induction of students to mark the 2023 Civil Engineering Week organised by the Nigeria Institute of Civil Engineers, NICE, Awka Chapter, themed “Adopting concrete and Asphalt Technology in rural roads: the issues.”
He also charged them to rise to the demands of their profession to put an end to incessant building collapse across the state.
Addressing the gathering who are members of NSE, Civil Engineers, COREN and Engineering students, Odimegwu said it was high time Engineers were included in the scheme of things in the society especially as it concerned building.
He regretted that Anambra is battling with over 1500 active erosion sites presently, with 150 out of 179 communities of the state having more than one erosion case each.
On his part, National resident of NICE, Engineer Virginus Ezugu, while outlining various developments recorded by the organization under his watch, regretted that many answering Engineers were not alive to their profession as they preferred engaging in other businesses in quest for money.
He advised the older members to engage in networking on how to better their profession while the younger ones do the job.
In a lecture on the theme of the event, the Head, Civil Engineering Department, UNIZIK, Professor C A Ezeagu while comparing concrete to asphalt technology, opined that by now, Engineers should have generated ideas on how to solve the issue of rigid concrete and asphalt.
“Going forward, the nation’s highway system will require to accommodate increasing number of vehicles while construction to ensure its durability in decades to come,” he said.
In an induction paper presentation, Principal partner, Prolarank Nigeria Limited,
Engr. Mudasiru Bola urged students to focus on the aspect of Engineering they would major on, and to tailor their minds on the particular aspect that would fetch them money after graduation.
Chairman of NICE, Awka Chapter, Engr. Alex Ifeagwazi revealed that Awka chapter of the association oversees that of Nnewi, Onitsha and others in Anambra, noting that during the week-long activities for the Civil Engineering week, through courtesy visits, workshops, seminars, they were able to get assurance of partnership going forward with ministries in charge of building in the state for a better output.
The state chairman of COREN Engineer Victor Meju said that it is no longer business as usual as COREN has been empowered by the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration to fish out quacks who have been giving the state half-baked roads over time, and said that COREN has an understanding with the NYSC in the state to be posting Engineering corps members to construction companies to put to practice what they were taught in school and at the same time earn a living for themselves.
