The Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Sani Rabe has charged graduate engineers of the institute to exhibit professional competence, due diligence, and moral ethics in their practice.
The Commandant made the call during the 2024 Graduate Engineers Induction Ceremony, held at the Ibrahim Alfa Auditorium, AFIT, Kaduna on Saturday.
No fewer than 400 graduates of the “class of 2024” of AFIT were inducted as members of the Nigeria Institute of Engineers.
The Commandant, who was represented by the institute’s Provost, Prof. Awwal Kashim, noted that AFIT has grown significantly since its establishment 40 years ago, evolving from a technical institution to a full-fledged university.
He also highlighted AFIT’s commitment to collaborations with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
He said, “as you begin your journey as professional engineers, I urge you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethics.
“Today, AFIT is a hub for engineering education, research, and innovation, with five faculties offering 22 NUC-accredited programs, a postgraduate school, and two faculties offering NBTE-accredited programs.
“We are open to collaborations that will enhance the quality and relevance of our engineering programs, and make them globally competitive.”
Speaking, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Abubakar reaffirmed the council’s dedication to ensuring the quality and standards of engineering education in the country.
According to Abubakar, COREN has established several committees to achieve its goals, including the Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology of Universities (CODET), the Committee of Deans of Engineering of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COMPODET), and the Committee of Heads of Technical Colleges (COHTEC).
He emphasized the importance of OBE in engineering education, stating that it ensures that engineering programs are designed to produce graduates with specific skills and competencies.
The COREN President also highlighted the organization’s commitment to maintaining the attainment of the Washington Accord benchmark in university systems and the Sydney Accord benchmark in polytechnics in Nigeria.
He said, “These committees play a crucial role in ensuring that engineering programs in Nigeria meet the required standards.
“They contribute to several key areas, including the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) in engineering, the restructuring of engineering pedagogy, documentation and peer reviewing of all processes, and building new relationships with stakeholders.
“OBE is a critical component of engineering education, and we are committed to ensuring that all engineering programs in Nigeria adopt this approach.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that engineering programs in Nigeria meet international standards, and we will continue to work with stakeholders to achieve this goal.”
Earlier in her speech, the President of the NSE, Engineer Magret Oguntala, enjoined all the 2024 graduates engineers to be good ambassadors of AFIT and also uphold the ethics of the engineering profession wherever they found themselves.