The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) says it has concluded arrangements to secure international accreditation for its registered engineers in the country.
COREN President, Mr Kashim Ali, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Ali said the required assessment for the certification would be concluded at the forthcoming High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and Mobility being hosted by the national engineering body.
NAN reports that the High Level Policy Forum is billed to assess the benchmark academic standards for engineering profession whose outcome would determine whether or not Nigerian engineers will be granted international accreditation.
Ali said that that the council had completed preparation of all documents and presentations to ensure that Nigerian engineers gained the accreditation to practice in 48 Asia-Pacific countries.
He said that COREN had embarked on the required advocacy to sensitise relevant stakeholders as well as seek the support of the Federal Government for the process.
Ali said that COREN had so far briefed the Ministers of Water Resources; Industry, Trade and Investment as well as those of Environment and Foreign Affairs.
He also said that the council had concluded plans to visit the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on a similar mission.
“We have sensitised the stakeholders. We visited four ministers so far and we have more to go and we have their assurances that they are attending.
“The venue is ready. The arrangement to receive our international guests is ready also. So, we are set.
“For that kind of a decision to be taken, you need to have high level representatives of our government involved in such decisions that would impact on its citizens and the country.
“UNESCO is also coming and that is why we have to ensure that high level government officials and engineering professionals are prepared to interface with the visiting experts.
“So, that is the only way it will show that there is a buy-in by the people and government of Nigeria.”
Ali said that with successful accreditation, COREN-certified engineers would be deemed qualified to practice in Asia-Pacific countries without undergoing another level of qualification training.
“But now, if this (accreditation) is done, it means that the training and accreditation that is given to you in Nigeria is enough for you to be recognised in those countries,” he said.
NAN reports that the High Level Policy Forum to be hosted by COREN, on July 18, 2016, is being organised under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre based in Jakarta, Indonesia.