As part of efforts to curb the recurring incidents of building collapse and engineering failures across the country, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has introduced a new training and certification programme aimed at promoting teamwork and ensuring that only qualified professionals handle engineering projects.
The Head of Training and Certification Department at COREN, Engr. Precious Onuoha, disclosed this during a three-day training and certification workshop on “Engineering Failure and Forensic Investigation” held in Lagos.
The workshop, attended by licensed engineering practitioners from the academia, industry, and various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), is the first of its kind in Nigeria.
It is designed to build a national database of trained and certified practitioners who will work collaboratively to eradicate incidents of building collapse and other engineering failures.
In her remarks, Engr. Onuoha said the programme came at a crucial time to consolidate the successes already recorded by COREN in responding to structural failures nationwide.
She explained that the workshop, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), brought together diverse professional bodies and stakeholders in line with COREN’s policy of ensuring that engineering practitioners possess practical knowledge and problem-solving skills relevant to Nigeria’s needs.
“This workshop is both important and timely. I’m pleased that it is practical, as it involves engineering practitioners from industry, academia, and MDAs working together.
“COREN now operates under an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) system, which focuses on producing engineers capable of solving real-life problems. Two years ago, COREN became a provisional signatory to the Washington Accord, which means that Nigerian engineers trained under the OBE system can now practice in any signatory country without writing additional examinations,” she said.
Engr. Onuoha added that the Council is determined to strengthen practitioners’ skills in engineering failure and forensic investigation — a new dimension aimed at identifying and addressing the root causes of engineering-related disasters.
Delivering his paper at the workshop, Prof. Michael A. Ayeni, a Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria, stressed the importance of forensic investigation in promoting accountability and reducing the spate of building collapses.
“Forensic investigation ensures that culprits are identified and prosecuted based on credible, professional evidence. The absence of consequences in the past allowed negligence to thrive.
“With forensic skills, practitioners can obtain evidence admissible in court, making it easier to prosecute those responsible — whether it’s the designer, contractor, or materials supplier. Once people face consequences, compliance will naturally improve,” he explained.
Prof. Ayeni described the training as “hybrid and peer-driven,” noting that engineering investigations must involve experts across related disciplines to achieve reliable outcomes.
Representing the Director-General of NBRRI, Engr. Prof. Samson Duna, Engr. Juliana N. Toden advised engineers to take all aspects of construction seriously to prevent structural failures.
“From the onset of every project, soil testing and quality control are essential. Preliminary soil investigation determines the quality and quantity of materials required. Engineers must insist on it, no matter the pressure from clients,” she cautioned.
Participants, including Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed of the FCT Emergency Management Agency and Engr. Rita Eze, a COREN Fellow representing Rising Global Engineering Limited, described the workshop as an eye-opener. They said it broadened their understanding of forensic investigation and equipped them with skills to conduct proper post-incident analyses and recommend preventive measures.
The three-day programme combined theory with hands-on practical sessions, during which participants used specialized computer software to solve engineering problems and simulate forensic analyses.
Reporting By Innocent Onoh