President says engineering excellence is essential to national growth as FG expands scope of infrastructure projects
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has underscored the crucial role of engineers in shaping Nigeria’s future, insisting that the country’s development trajectory depends largely on the strength and quality of its engineering profession.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) International Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting in Ibadan, the President said no nation can outgrow the competence of its engineers.
Tinubu hailed the NSE for its longstanding contribution to national development, describing the body as a stabilising force that consistently nurtures professional standards, innovation and technical capacity within the sector.
According to him, the impact of Nigerian engineers across civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, software, agricultural and other specialised fields continues to be felt in major national projects and remains central to the government’s development agenda.
The President noted that the conference theme aligns strongly with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which targets improvements in road and housing infrastructure, power supply, agricultural systems, water projects, digital technology and modern transport networks.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has widened the scope of ongoing road projects to enhance quality, deepen local content and create more roles for Nigerian engineers. Tinubu added that new partnerships with universities and engineering associations are being strengthened to bridge skills gaps and support research based engineering solutions.
“Our focus is on building local capacity and ensuring that young engineers have real opportunities to contribute to national development,” he said.
Tinubu also highlighted ongoing reforms to boost the ease of doing business and encourage the domestic production of construction materials. He further affirmed the government’s readiness to work with the private sector through Public Private Partnerships to accelerate infrastructure delivery.
Reassuring the NSE of continuous government support, the President said the country would lean heavily on the expertise, integrity and innovation of its engineering professionals to build a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.
He congratulated the Society on a successful conference and urged participants to embrace emerging technologies, explore new ideas and leverage collaborations that can strengthen the nation’s engineering capacity.
“Let us continue building the Nigeria we envision, one project, one breakthrough and one innovation at a time,” Tinubu said.
