President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE), Engr. Johnson Adeyoye, has said Nigerian engineers are not getting enough government patronage because the foreign counterparts are easily corrupted by the politicians.
Adeyoye said, unlike foreigners, Nigerian engineers have a stake in the country and as such they would not bow to the corrupt tendencies of the political class.
He spoke during a virtual press conference ahead of the institution’s 2024 conference and 37th annual general meeting (AGM) to be held in Abuja between October 15 and 16.
Responding to questions, Adeyoye expressed concern about preference accorded foreign firms by the government at the expense of Nigerian engineers, saying a prophet is never honoured in his homeland.
The President said contrary to the low patronage of indigenous experts by the politicians, Nigerian engineers are highly prized overseas.
“The largest auditorium in the whole world that contains worshippers was designed by a member of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, who happened to be a past president. It’s in the Guinness book of records. That’s how competent Nigerian structural engineers are.
“But like I told you, a prophet is never recognised at home. And unfortunately also, foreigners are eager to cooperate with politicians. Politicians don’t find it easy to corrupt Nigerian engineers because Nigerian engineers have a stake in Nigeria.
“Perhaps, this is why they avoid Nigerian engineers because of what they have at the back of their minds,” he said.
He blamed the recurring building collapses on failure to patronise professionals at the various stages of building projects.
The President boasted that no single member of the body has been implicated in a building collapse.
“What we do as structural engineers is that when you put the right people in the right project, you achieve durability and save lives. Your investment is also safe and secure when you use the right professionals as structural engineers.
“But over the years we have been Naira wise, kobo foolish because of the preference for artisans to replace structural engineers,” he said.
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