By Reen Chidi
Delta State University (DELSU), Oleh Campus, has inducted 282 graduate engineers into the engineering profession in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
The maiden oath-taking and induction ceremony, organised for graduates of the 2024/2025 academic session, was held at the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The event marked a significant step in the professional development of the graduates, with stakeholders urging them to uphold the ethics of engineering, demonstrate competence and deploy their knowledge towards national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Asagba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Engr. Prof. Hilary Owamah, reaffirmed the university management’s commitment to repositioning the Faculty of Engineering through improved infrastructure, modern equipment and enhanced academic programmes.
Owamah said the Vice-Chancellor had prioritised the development of the faculty, noting that the university would continue to provide an enabling environment for effective teaching, learning and practical engineering training.
He assured the inductees that DELSU remained committed to producing competent graduates capable of meeting the evolving demands of the engineering profession.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, Engr. Prof. K.M. Oghenejoboh, charged the new engineers to make integrity, honesty, discipline, accountability and professional competence the foundation of their careers.
He described the induction as a defining moment in their professional journey, reminding them that membership of the engineering profession carried significant responsibilities to society and the nation.
Oghenejoboh also drew attention to the international opportunities available to Nigerian engineering graduates through the country’s participation in the Washington Accord.
He explained that the agreement provides a framework for the international recognition of qualifications obtained from accredited engineering programmes, creating opportunities for eligible graduates to pursue professional careers in member countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
He challenged the inductees to apply their expertise to solving critical national problems, particularly in infrastructure development, renewable and sustainable energy, transportation, manufacturing, digital transformation and environmental protection.
Representing the President of COREN, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, the Chairman of the Delta State Technical Committee on Engineering Regulations Monitoring, Engr. Solomon A. Aghagba, called on Nigerian universities to strengthen the quality of engineering education and ensure that graduates possess the technical and practical skills required in the global labour market.
Aghagba, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Works, disclosed that approximately 123 universities in Nigeria offer engineering education through more than 622 programmes.
He maintained that the country’s educational resources, if effectively utilised, had the potential to produce at least 15,000 engineering graduates across various disciplines.
According to him, COREN has introduced a comprehensive checklist based on international best practices to guide engineering education and ensure that institutions meet the necessary academic and professional requirements.
He reaffirmed the council’s readiness to support DELSU through training, capacity development, accreditation and quality assurance initiatives aimed at helping the institution attain the required Washington Accord benchmarks.
The COREN representative further emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships among universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies, noting that such collaboration was essential to closing the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry requirements.
He said engineering graduates must be adequately exposed to workplace realities to develop the competence, proficiency and practical experience needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Aghagba commended the university for its contributions to academic advancement and congratulated the newly inducted engineers, urging them to remain committed to professional excellence.
Similarly, Engr. Goodluck Ohwodo, representing the NSE President, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, congratulated the 282 inductees and described their induction as an important achievement.
He encouraged the graduates to complete their registration with COREN, stressing that appropriate professional registration was necessary for their career progression and eventual practice as registered engineers.
Ohwodo reminded them that engineering practice was guided by strict professional regulations and ethical principles, which must be respected at every stage of their careers.
He urged the young engineers to become worthy ambassadors of the profession through diligence, integrity, accountability and conduct capable of sustaining public confidence in engineering practice.
Delivering the keynote lecture titled, *”Ethical Issues and the Prospects of Young Engineers in an AI Generation,”* Owamah warned the graduates against excessive reliance on artificial intelligence in carrying out academic and professional responsibilities.
While acknowledging the growing relevance of AI in improving efficiency and providing access to information, he maintained that the technology could not replace human judgement, professional integrity and individual accountability.
He stressed that engineers must understand the limitations of artificial intelligence and ensure that technological tools complement, rather than undermine, their professional competence and ethical obligations.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor also urged the inductees to maximise the opportunities available during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme by seeking placements and assignments that would expose them to practical engineering experience.
He advised them not to limit their service year to classroom teaching where other opportunities existed to apply their technical knowledge and contribute to engineering-related projects.
Owamah encouraged the young professionals to believe in their abilities, pursue opportunities for practical development and remain proactive in building successful careers.
He concluded that the future relevance of engineering in Nigeria would depend not only on technical knowledge and innovation but also on the integrity, discipline, ethical values and practical competence of the professionals entering the field.
The induction ceremony brought together university management, representatives of regulatory and professional engineering bodies, faculty members and other stakeholders, underscoring the importance of collaboration in developing a competent and ethically responsible engineering workforce for Nigeria.
