Ex-Minister of Power, Prof. Nnaji Emphasizes Government’s Responsibility to Engineering Profession

By Francis Kadiri.

Former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji has underscored the crucial importance of government’s responsibility to the engineering profession.

Nnaji, who is the Chairman of the 33rd Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), made the call in his welcome address at the event, recently, in Abuja.

He said it is imperative that engineers reflect on their collective role in society and the partnership they must establish with the government to ensure that Nigeria not only keeps pace with global advances, but leads in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive developments.

Nnaji, who is the Chairman and CEO of the Geometric Power Group, encouraged the government to ensure an enabling policy environment for engineering practice. He stated: ‘The government must enact and enforce clear, forward-looking policies that incentivize research and development, protect intellectual property, and streamline regulatory approvals.’

The former minister, who noted that a predictable policy landscape empowers engineering enterprises to plan long-term investments in innovation, called on the government to invest in education and skills.

Professor Nnaji stated: ‘To keep pace with trends such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Industry 4.0, we need curricula that emphasize digital literacy, data analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration.’

He therefore called on the government to support scholarships, laboratory upgrades, and continuous professional development, stating that it will ensure that Nigerian engineers remain world-class.

Discussing the need for the government to increase its support for infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships in the country, Nnaji pointed out that ‘critical projects ranging from high-speed rail to broadband expansion, often exceed the fiscal capacity of any single actor.’ He said by crafting transparent PPP frameworks, the government can leverage private engineering expertise and capital, accelerating project delivery while maintaining public accountability.

According to the former minister, there is a need to establish more Research Grants and Innovation Hubs in the country. He said establishing dedicated funds and technology parks where engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs collaborate will nurture homegrown solutions, adding that government-backed prizes and incubation programs can help transform prototypes into scalable businesses.

Nnaji underscored the crucial importance of quality in project delivery, and called on the government to support Standards and Regulation, stating that a “robust national standards body, adequately resourced and independent, is essential to ensure quality control across sectors.’