Don Hails ICPC, COREN Collaboration Against Engineering Quackery

Prof. Adisa Bello, former Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), says the council is partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to curb quackery in the country’s engineering sector.

Bello made this known on Monday in Bauchi during a public lecture and magazine launch organised by final-year engineering students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).

He explained that COREN currently operates an Engineering Regulatory Monitoring Unit in 29 states, mandated to identify cases of professional misconduct. “If the unit finds anyone culpable of quackery, the person will be handed over to the ICPC for prosecution,” he said.

According to him, amendments to COREN’s laws in 2018 granted the council powers to prosecute offenders. “Anybody practicing engineering without registration will be prosecuted. COREN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ICPC to ensure that offenders are brought to justice,” Bello stressed.

Citing past incidents, Bello recalled COREN’s investigation into the collapse of a 21-storey building in Lagos, which led to some engineers being handed over to ICPC. He also noted a case where an individual presented fake academic results, adding that ICPC investigations led to the person’s ongoing prosecution.

The don urged universities and academics to ensure all engineering programmes are properly accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and COREN to maintain professional standards.

In a related presentation, Dr. Ibrahim Ikara, Head of Civil Engineering Department at ATBU, delivered a paper titled “Smart Cities and the Role of Engineering and Technology in Building the Urban Future.”

Ikara, represented by Muhammad Suleiman, highlighted the critical role of engineers in designing disaster-resilient infrastructure, eco-friendly neighbourhoods, and modern urban systems. He, however, listed challenges facing smart city development in Nigeria, including infrastructure deficit, limited funding, and low digital literacy.

He urged policymakers to prioritise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to achieve sustainable development goals.