NAN-H-92
Professionals
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Society of Engineers on Monday called on the three tiers of government to always patronise indigenous professionals.
The Chairman of the Ibadan branch of the society, Mr Bola Olowe, made the call at a news conference to kick-start the 2017 engineering week held at the branch Secretariat, Ibadan.
Olowe said the all tiers of government are expected to patronise local professionals, saying they are the engine room of economic growth and development.
According to the chairman, it is high time governments jettisoned the short term view of infrastructure development by thinking that only foreigners could provide quality services.
“Nigerian engineers are up to the task; they are able and have indeed been providing qualitative services in their various engagements all over the nation,” he said.
Olowe said that patronising indigenous professionals, particularly the private sector, would help to prevent capital flight and contribute to the provision of jobs for the youths.
“We have to recognise this and allow each level of professional in the development of projects to effectively carry out their duties and play their roles well,” he said.
Olowe said that one of the ways the country’s economy could be speedily pulled out of recession was for government to increase spending and expand the productive and construction base of the economy.
According to him, government at all levels must put a lot of investment into the development of the nation’s infrastructure and manufacturing base.
“At the moment, the infrastructure base of the nation is not at par with that of other economies like ours.
“The government has to make deliberate efforts to implement plans and policies that will put a lot of money into the development of infrastructure such as roads and transportation, power and water supply,” Olowe said.
He urged members of the public to always patronise genuine professionals and not quacks when developing their projects.
Olowe said that investigations had shown that most of the collapsed structures in the country were either given to quacks or the clients had not listened to the advice of professionals they employed.
“Regulatory and monitoring agencies of government are also enjoined to be up and doing and take their roles more seriously,” he said. (NAN)
MAM/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide