Dear Sir/Ma,

LETTER OF INVITATION TO THE STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP ON ENGINEERING EDUCATION, PRACTICE AND REGULATION, SCHEDULED FOR 13th–14th JAN, 2016

Engineering Education is a foundation for technicians, technologists and engineers to protect and serve the public. It is a continuum that begins with the engineering student, continues with engineer-in-training and does not end until the professional engineer retires or dies. Its development is also a continuous process that is constantly evolving to answer the complex technical, social and ethical questions raised by emerging technologies.

The professional practice cuts across consulting, contracting, manufacturing, maintenance, engineering services, fabrication, repairs, vendoring of machinery, equipment, spare parts and sundry services as well as regulating engineering. However, few Engineers are conscious of this wide perspective and still have the prerequisite skill to key in into this abundant opportunity. There is a need therefore to raise the consciousness of Engineers and empower them with both communication and technical skills that will go a long way in aligning the 'redundant' engineering manpower and the poorly serviced sector of the economy. Moreover, despite the growing importance of engineering practice to society, the engineering profession tends to be held in relatively low esteem compared to other learned professional such as law and medicine.

Today’s engineers no longer hold the leadership positions in business and government that were once claimed by engineers in the 19th and 20th century. This is partly because, neither the profession nor the education/regulatory systems supporting it have kept pace with the changing nature of both our knowledge–intensive society and the global marketplace. Today, the profession remains most vulnerable and is invaded by non- professionals or “quacks” in all ramifications. Hence, there is also a need to strengthen

regulation and supervision of all systematically relevant institutions – both in the engineering and shadow–engineering sectors to unlock the abundant opportunities for the professional engineers and for the safety of public properties.

It is in line with this that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a non – profit Organization, in partnership with some stakeholders, is desirous to organize a 2–day Workshop with the theme“Engineering Education, Practice and Regulation”. This is part of the activities of Pre-Inauguration of the 30th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Otis Oliver Tabugbo Anyaeji, FNSE, FNImechE, FAEng. The Workshop is expected to address vigilantly the gap between employers who are becoming more insistent on hiring job–ready engineers, and less inclined to invest in training engineering personnel who lack the necessary competencies. The Workshop is also expected to create the right balance between leadership, communication (soft) skills and awareness of limitations, and ability to respond appropriately to unexpected challenges (technical) skills. The empirical lessons from the Workshop will provide the right body of knowledge for policy formulation, predictable, stable environment of funding, professional practice and regulation for long term strategic partnership to strive within and outside the academic institutions, industries, service providers, regulators and policy makers and others.

The Workshop has been scheduled to hold as follows:
Date:    Wednesday, 13th – Thursday, 14th January, 2016
Venue:    Main  Auditorium,  National  Engineering  Centre,  Central  Business District, Behind New National Library/ Central Mosque, Abuja
Time:    10am Daily

The Workshop shall focus among other, on the following topics:

1. Academia – Industry – Government Partnership for Advancement of Engineering Education, Technology Transfer and Engineering Discipline
2. Innovating the Engineering Curriculum to meet Contemporary Industry Demands
3. Consulting and Contracting Engineering and Engineering Services
4. Manufacturing and Vendoring Engineering
5. Quality Control and Quality Assurance
6. Licensing and Code of Ethics
7. Entrepreneurship and Mentoring

On behalf of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Organizing Committee humbly invites your honour, presence and active participation at the Pre – inauguration Stakeholders’ Workshop on “Engineering Education, Practice and Regulation” of the 30th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,Engr Otis Oliver Tabugbo Anyaeji, FNSE, FNImechE, FAEng.

While we look forward to your kind support and attendance, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.

Yours sincerely,

For: The Nigerian Society of Engineers

Engr. Olusola Obadimu, MNSE        Engr. Prof. David Esezobor, MNSE

Executive Secretary, NSE                Chairman, Organizing Committee

PS:

In case of any inquiry, kindly call or email Engr. Prof David Esezobor, MNSE Chairman, Planning Committee on 08100894485/08059880898 esezobordave@yahoo.com; 

or Engr Ovens F. Ehimatie, MNSE Secretary, Planning Committee on 08033960630/08127222228 orovnslid@yahoo.com