NSE Tasks FG On Technology Education

The Nigerian Society of
Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal Government to place emphasis on the promotion of science and technology education in the country.
The President of the society, Mr Otis Anyaeji, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
He also said that the government should adopt a more practical approach to encourage innovative youths across the country.
Anyaeji said that since science and technology is the bedrock for the development of nations, government must harness the innovative energy of youths to promote indigenous inventions.
“As a nation, we must take the bold step by placing the highest emphasis on the promotion of science and technology education among youths, to fast track national development.
“Emphasis should be given to the appointment of science and engineering professionals to manage the critical oil and gas, energy-related industry as well as engineering-based institutions.
“Nigeria has to embark on strategic approach that pushes for building institutional capacity through the development of skills and competencies, best-in-class science and engineering innovation culture’’.
This approach, he said, should be anchored on highly productive and competitive innovation and business model for driving sustainable technological inventions, to stimulate industrial growth and manufacturing capacity.
Anyaeji said NSE was determined to conduct effective monitoring of engineering faculties across the country.
This, he said, was to ensure that such faculties were equipped in line with the accreditation requirement of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
He added that NSE planned to sustain its campaign on the need for federal and states governments to upgrade facilities in engineering faculties, to build the confidence of engineering students.
He further added that NSE would sustain its advocacy for the overhauling and upgrading of equipment and engineering laboratories in tertiary institutions for optimal production of well-grounded engineers.
“We are currently carrying out science and technology competitions in universities and polytechnics through our state branches, to provide opportunities for inventive students to develop.
“We are also working with local and international engineering and technology-based organisations, to create platforms for hands-on capacity development programme for students and professional engineers.’’
The NSE President, however, restated the society’s commitment to partner with the Federal Government in its avowed effort to actualise the Nigerian dream of rapid infrastructural development at affordable cost.