Professionals in the engineering field have been advised to up their game by proffering solutions to the many challenges facing society including its housing deficits.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, gave the advice at the 29th Founders’ Day Celebration of the Ikeja, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the commissioning of the Engineering Resource Centre named in his honour, held at Ralph Alabi Engineering Centre, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday, January 31, 2021.
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Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to the Minister quoted him as saying: “I will urge engineers, in spite of the giant strides they have made, not to relent in their efforts at human development and progress in order to live up to the billing as merchants of applied knowledge. The best research and innovations will still take engineers to convert to reality.
“One major challenge of an urban centre like Lagos is a housing shortage.
“According to the latest estimate, Lagos has 2.5 million housing deficits. This creates other problems of health, the environment and security.
“The overcrowding and high population density in some areas is a ticking time bomb in epidemics and pandemics of the future.
“Engineers should begin to design and construct low-cost houses that use less concrete and blocks and can be produced at very fast rate in order to decongest and restore sanity to these areas,” the Minister stated.
Speaking further on the role of professionals in setting minimum standards for development in the country, Aregbesola stated that professional bodies should put themselves in the position to ensure that the government is getting value for money on projects and that the public feel their impact on the way government conducts its business, so they can gain the respect and admiration of the public.
The Minister also challenged engineers in the country to come up with creative ideas to provide energy and reduce the cost of electricity and petroleum products in the country.
Speaking at the event, chairman of the occasion, T.S.G. Wudil, who is also the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, appreciated the Ikeja Branch of the NSE for the visionary project, stating that when last he visited in 2015, many meaningful projects and contributions have been made to the Society by the branch.
Also speaking at the event, the special guest of honour, Dr Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, stated that he supported the project to ensure the growth of the Engineering profession.
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