My Engineers Blog

The immediate past President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisation (FAEO) and a former President of the NSE, Balarabe Mustapha Shehu, however, blamed slow development of physical infrastructure in the country on lack of interest among women in engineering courses. Shehu, who spoke at the African Catalyst Project: Statistical Data for Women in Science and Engineering: A Pilot Project for Nigeria, Rwanda and Malawi, noted that government should strive to introduce policies that would encourage women develop interest in engineering profession to engender national development. Speaking, Chairman Committee for Women in Engineering of FAEO, Valeria Agberagba, said time had come for teachers and lecturers to adopt alluring methods in the teaching of science, mathematics, technology and engineering courses to make it attractive to students. She added that guardian and counselors have a major role to play in the career choices for young adults.“The last time teaching m

Dear Colleagues, Last night at a Careers Expo attended by happy throngs of kids and parents, one dad (a practising engineer) indicated to me that he had advised his two kids who were shortly finishing high school to avoid an engineering career and to focus on more lucrative jobs such as in law or merchant banking. I sympathise with him as many of my  engineering friends have been caught out in the intermittent ‘down draughts’ and thrown onto the streets. I am not so sure though However, I am not so sure that lawyers and merchant bankers are able to find good jobs either. There is a ferocious amount of automation going at present with a lot of legal jobs being automated (you can buy a proforma contract document for a few dollars or even an hour of cheap legal advice online nowadays). Business graduates are ‘a dime a dozen’ these days because of the massive growth in these university programs. The challenge with Engineering Jobs The reason why most of my engineering buddies h

More rail engineering talent is needed as Singapore's rail system expands and becomes more complex, said representatives of SMRT's technical advisory panel, following a two-day meeting that ended yesterday. The nine-member panel - first formed four years ago to beef up SMRT's engineering capabilities - includes those with expertise working on the Hong Kong MTR and London Underground.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Auchi Branch has elected and sworn-in Obomeghie Mariam Abdul Wajid as its first female Chairperson at its last Annual General meeting held at the Auchi Polytechnic Alumni Association (APAA) building, Auchi. She is succeeding the outgoing Engr Dauda Okudugha, a mechanical Engineer. The list of the Newly elected executive members are: Engr. Mrs Obomeghie M. A.- Chairperson Engr. Alhassan Ahmed I. -Vice chairman  Engr. C. Kc. Anajemba - Secretary Engr. Okafor Michael - Asst. Secretary Engr. A. S. Nihad - Technical Secretary Engr. Atanda E.O. - Asst. Tech. Secretary Engr. Abdulrahman O.- Treasurer Engr. Omenaimen Ikhide‎ - PR) Engr. Mrs Sekiteri Patience A.‎ - Financial secretary Auchi branch of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), joins other few Branches across the country which has produced female leaders, among whom are NSE Ilesha (Engr Mojirade Oloruntoba), NSE ikeja Branch (Engr Margaret Oguntala), NSE Giri (Engr Aishatu Umar) etc. Du

Country Director of the World Bank Group for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dr. Henry G. R. Kerali, has called on Civil Engineers in the country to institute sanctions regimes for Engineers and contractors whose actions lead to poor infrastructure delivery. Dr. Kerali made the call when he delivered a speech as the Special Guest at the Civil Engineering Conference and Exhibition held on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge in Accra. Speaking on the theme: ‘Regulating Civil Engineering Practice for Effective Delivery’, the World Bank Country Director asked, “What happens when a building collapses? Who bears the ultimate responsibility?” He adds, “It is still not clear to me the sanctions regime for Engineers and Contractors whose actions leads to the poor infrastructure delivery. It is also not clear to me whether the delivery by professional practice is evaluated. Is Professional misconduct an issue, and if it is, how are practitioners held liable?

SINGAPORE — Raising the standards of the professional engineering sector, giving the Professional Engineers Board (PEB) more teeth in its regulatory roles, and making it easier for these Singapore professionals to go abroad. These were among the changes to the Professional Engineers Act that were passed in Parliament on Monday (Sept 11). Mr Desmond Lee, Second Minister for National Development, highlighted the important role of professional engineers in designing and planning complex structures and machinery, supervising the construction of these structures, and in maintaining the safe operation of machinery. The Act, last amended in 2005, provides a basis to hold these professional engineers legally accountable and, in turn, ensures public safety, he said. The number of registered professional engineers has jumped 20 per cent since 2005 to around 3,900 today, while the number of licensed entities providing professional engineering services has grown from 76 to more than 200. G

Distinguished colleagues,  I heaved a sigh of relief when the ideas that birthed the evolution of this noble body, Nigerian Union of Engineering Professionals (NUEP) and some other proposed bodies like it started ringing more loudly late last year in view of the distasteful treatments and unjust discriminations being meted out against Nigerian engineers both in private and public sectors from utter disregard for their expertise to being ignored in favour of less qualified expatriates resulting in social disdain in leadership and non inclusion in relevant political appointments and critical policy formulation. In August  2014 COREN Assembly,  I spoke up at a plenary session which also had about three ministers and top government functionaries in attendance about the need for a more effective engineering regulatory body by replacing COREN with or upgrading them to *Office of Engineer General of  The Federation (EGF) * that answers directly to the President or the Secretary to the Gov

The federal government, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) and Shell Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) have completed the technical and commercial evaluation of bids for the main packages in the development of the $13.5 billion Zabazaba deepwater oil field in Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 245 within 14 months, THISDAY has learnt. Shell and Agip acquired OPL 245, which was christened the Zabazaba field, from Malabu Oil and Gas in 2012 for $1.3 billion. The acquisition has been the subject of a corruption probe and prosecutions in Italy and Nigeria but has not deterred Shell and Agip, which have both maintained their innocence, from going ahead with the field’s development. Agip is developing the Zabazaba field with proven reserves of 560 million barrels of oil as a standalone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres. The latest development is coming as SNEPCo is set to issue bid documents for th

Africa’s biggest hatchery and feed mill constructed by Olam Grains Nigeria is  inaugurated today in Kaduna by the President Muhamadu Buhari. The company, constructed at 150 million dollars, consists of feed mill, hatchery and breeder farm, Olam’s Business Head, Vinod Mishra, said. Middle East Olam International Business Head, Mr. Vinod Kumar Mishra, had earlier said that when inaugurated, the multi-million dollar investment would utilise around 180,000 tonnes of corn and 75,000 tonnes of soya beans for its feed production. Mishra said the company had the capacity to produce 360,000 tonnes of animal feeds every year. He said the company would also produce 1.6 million day-old-chick every week. He said it would boost the production of maize and soybeans as well as the development of the Nigerian poultry and aquaculture sectors. According to him, the 50,000 tonnes of on-site storage, in addition to a similar capacity of outsourced storage, will support food security and price stabi

In light of a recent CBC Marketplace report on professionals with phony credentials, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is reminding the public of the resources available to confirm if an individual or company is licensed to practise engineering in Ontario, and the processes in place to protect the public. “Our licensure process ensures that licence holders’ engineering practices are technically competent, based on sound professional ethics and adhere to standards of practice that are the hallmark of professional engineering,” says PEO Registrar, Gerard McDonald, P.Eng. “And through our online directories, the public can verify if an individual holds a valid licence to practise engineering in the province, and if a company or individual has been granted permission to offer engineering services to the public.” In Ontario, individuals may only call themselves an engineer, or a P.Eng., or use a similar title if they possess a P.Eng. licence from PEO. Professional engineers or firm

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has taken another step in its mandate to reduce unemployment and encourage youths in self-employed skill acquisitions. Its Director General, Dr. Nasir Ladan Mohammed Argungu, said this at the opening of the Solar Energy Training Scheme (SETS) organised by the Special Public Works (SPW) of the directorate in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It is presently training 432 trainees from 12 pilot states comprising two states from each geopolitical zone of which Ogun State is one with 36 participants. The training will last for two months. Argungu, who was represented by the state Coordinator of NDE, Mr. Femi Oyenekan, said the SETS was one of the renewable energy training schemes designed by the directorate to generate employment for the unemployed graduates to explore new areas of job creation to develop critical sector of the economy and the national needs. “Energy as one of the integral infrastructural components needed for urban and rural eco

Meet Anny Divya, from Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), the 30-year-old Indian woman pilot who has become the world’s youngest woman to command a Boeing 777 aircraft. Breaking all stereotypes and societal norms, Anny made history with Air India, the carrier which created a record after it flew across the globe, led by an all-female crew on the occasion of International Women’s Day. These are stories which remind us nobody should give up on their dreams. If there is a will, then there is a way to achieve the seemingly most un-achievable of aspirations and women should come forward in the labor sector. No matter how rocky the road is, a human being can always aspire and overcome the odds: nothing is impossible. The story of Anny Divya is no different. Born in Pathankot, she always wanted to become a pilot since childhood. Anny Divya blazes the trail for women empowerment Anny attended flying school at the tender age of 19 and in 2006, she joined Air India. She first trained in Spain o

Members of the Construction Industry Hall of Fame, an initiative designed for the recognition of outstanding practitioners, organisations and key players in the construction, building, engineering, oil and gas and other related sectors, have called for the development of local content to aid the revolution necessary for the diversification of the country’s economy. According to the group, the body language of the present administration tilts towards growing local infrastructure in all sectors of the economy, which should be encouraged. The group said the steps that could be taken to boost local content development would form the basis of discussion at the fourth induction ceremony on September 15. “The event, to be chaired by the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr. Otis Anyaeji, will feature an interactive forum where knowledgeable professionals will address this year’s theme, ‘Local content and the economy: Building capacity for growth,’” the Chief Executive Officer,

A serious engineering study and report has dispelled the myths and propaganda peddled by fired former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe and suspended Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko on the limits and costs of accommodating significant levels of variable renewable energy capacity in the South African power grid. Note: To ensure strict technical accuracy, significant parts of the text below, particularly the results detailed, are taken directly from wording in the report. Download it here. The study and associated report was prepared for the South African Department of Energy (DoE) and Eskom, and commissioned and funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the DoE’s South African – German Energy Programme (SAGEN). The study was conducted by international engineering consultants Dr.-Ing. Markus Pöller and Marko Obert, of Moeller & Poeller Engineering GmbH (MPE), and was published in South Africa in September 2017. The study report is entitled Assess

Nigeria’s power plant, Egbin Power Station Plc, said on Saturday that it recorded 827-day incident free operations. A statement issued in Lagos by the Chairman of the station, Mr Kola Adesina, said the safety standards and procedures at Egbin Power station helped the nation’s largest power plant record incident free operations. Adesina said the power plant operated in line with globally acclaimed standards for Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE) and required staff and stakeholders to abide by its zero tolerance policy on safety infractions. “Since we took over the plant in 2013, we have continued to enhance the plant’s HSSE profile through investments in safety equipment and training. “For us at Egbin, ensuring safety at all cost is a non-negotiable policy and we are delighted with the progress we have made in this regard. “It gives us the impetus to sustain ongoing transformation and preparation for future expansion of the plant.’’ Adesina said Egbin’s sa

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says Senate will give accelerated consideration to the Occupational Safety and Health Bill (SB. 200), once the National Assembly resumes from its annual recess. Saraki announced this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu on Saturday in Abuja. He said that with Nigeria’s focus on economic growth through the greater participation of the private sector, it was necessary to update laws guaranteeing safety and health of Nigerian workers. “The Occupational Safety Bill, which has gone through second reading, will help to ensure that   millions of Nigerian workers are protected in the event of injuries in their work places. “This Bill will also put in place a legal framework that will develop and promote occupational safety standards that define the exposure limits to chemicals, other biological and physical agents. “This Senate takes the health and well-being of Nigerian workers very serious

Oil and gas will be crucial components of the world’s energy future, according to DNV GL’s forecast of the energy transition. While renewable energy will grow its share of the energy mix, oil and gas will account for 44% of world energy supply in 2050, compared to 53% today. Gas will become the largest single source of energy from 2034. DNV GL’s Energy Transition Outlook (ETO), a forecast that spans the global energy mix to 2050, predicts that global demand for energy will flatten in 2030, then steadily decline over the next two decades, thanks to step-changes in energy efficiency. The fossil fuel share of the world’s primary energy mix will reduce from 81% currently to 52% in 2050. Demand for oil will peak in 2022, driven by expectations for a surge in prominence of light electric vehicles, accounting for 50% of new car sales globally by 2035. However, the stage is set for gas to become the largest single source of energy towards 2050, and the last of the fossil fuels to experie

Russian president Vladimir Putin has joined the war of words concerning the international race to develop artificial intelligence. Speaking to students last Friday, Putin predicted that whichever country leads the way in AI research will come to dominate global affairs. “Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia, but for all humankind,” said Putin, reports RT. “It comes with colossal opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to predict. Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.” The development of artificial intelligence has increasingly become a national security concern in recent years. It is China and the US (not Russia) which are seen as the two frontrunners, with China recently announcing its ambition to become the global leader in AI research by 2030. Many analysts warn that America is in danger of falling behind, especially as the Trump administration prepares to cut funding for basic science and technology rese

Congratulations to all Biomedical Engineers! Another wonderful milestone in Nigeria to be marked. INAUGURATION FOR THE SOCIETY OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS by the PRESIDENT of The Nigerian Society of Engineers. VENUE The Nigerian society of Engineers, Ilorin Branch, Branch Engineering Centre No. 1 Engineering  Close, University of Ilorin Main campus Road, Tanke, Ilorin. DATE: Friday 8th of September TIME: 10:00am All Biomedical Engineers are to be part of this epoch making event. Don't miss it...