The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has inaugurated a 30-member North-East Regional Steering Committee as part of efforts to decentralise regulatory functions and strengthen oversight of engineering practice across the country.
The committee—comprising 22 members and eight coopted members—was unveiled during the North-East Regional Engineering Stakeholders Summit, held in Gombe from 4–5 November.
The summit brought together senior engineering professionals, policymakers, and industry experts from across the region.
Inaugurating the committee, COREN President, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, said the establishment of regional regulatory structures marks a new phase in the Council’s drive for efficiency, innovation, and professional excellence.
He explained that the Regional Steering Committees were created under the Engineers Act 2018 to serve as regulatory hubs for compliance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and policy enforcement at the grassroots level.
“The future of engineering in Nigeria depends on our collective efforts,” Prof. Abubakar said. “With this roadmap and the active role of the RSCs, we will reshape engineering practice, education, and enforcement to produce a globally competitive profession.”
The COREN President listed ongoing reforms to include institutional restructuring, the establishment of seven regional and 37 state offices, the adoption of Outcome-Based Education, mandatory continuous professional development, and stricter ethical enforcement across engineering disciplines.
Representing Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Jatau, commended the initiative and described the hosting of the inaugural regional summit in Gombe as timely and strategic.
Dr. Jatau noted that engineers will play a critical role in rebuilding infrastructure across the North-East, which has suffered significant damage from years of insurgency and environmental challenges. He also urged COREN to invest more in mentorship to attract young Nigerians into the profession.
“The rehabilitation of our roads, bridges, and buildings lies within the ability of engineers. Society looks up to you for structures that can stand the test of time,” he said.
The newly inaugurated committee is chaired by Engr. Muhammad Lawan Abdullahi, with Engr. Isyaku Lawan as Vice Chairman, and Engr. Mustapha Ali Monguno as Secretary. Other members include senior engineers from academia, public institutions, and the private sector.
Participants at the summit praised COREN’s decentralisation strategy, saying the strengthened regional presence will improve compliance monitoring, enforcement of standards, and professional capacity-building across the North-East.
