Nigerian engineering now internationally marketable – NICE
The Washington accord is an agreement between member countries that engineers within the member states, will have opportunity to work in member countries without any interference and further tests or certification.
The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) says the signing of the Washington Accord by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has put Nigerian engineers in the international market space.
Mr. Sharafadeen Olumoh, National Vice President of NICE, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Washington accord is an agreement between member countries that engineers within the member states will have the opportunity to work in member countries without any interference or further tests or certification.
“There are previous conditions that were given to the Nigerian engineering family to meet before this signature because there are minimum standards in engineering education that are required as significant, such as outcome-based education.
“That is a deviation from the existing educational system that we have; the existing one is curriculum-based.
”There is a formation of curriculum and courses that students must pass and grade after passing, and then the students are graded and graduated, and the difference between that and the OBE is that students are graded based on what they can do.”
He said it was marrying the educational theory with the practical; somebody who had in mind what to invent, for example, a machine, could go into a university for that purpose and begin his career by studying how to invent such a machine.
He said if the individual succeeded, the invention was approved, and he succeeded in inventing that machine, the certificate or degree would be awarded to such an engineer based on that expertise.
”Washington Accord signatories are granted the mobility of engineering personnel within member countries. So Nigeria was duly granted signatory status, though it is not yet a permanent member.
“With this status,Nigerian engineers are able to move within these member countries and then practice without hindrance, and it will certainly improve the engineering practice within Nigeria.”
Originally signed in 1989, the Washington Accord is a multi-lateral agreement between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering qualifications within their jurisdictions.
Currently, there are 21 signatories to the Washington Accord; Nigeria is the second African signatory.
Some of the signatories to the Accord are Australia, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.