Delta State University (DELSU), Oleh Campus, has inducted 282 graduate engineers at its maiden oath-taking and induction ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic session, in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
The ceremony, held at the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, marked a significant milestone in the professional development of the graduates as they formally embraced the ethical responsibilities and standards of the engineering profession.
Representing 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 activities.
Owamah said the development of the faculty remained a priority for the Vice-Chancellor, assuring that the university would continue to provide the necessary support to strengthen teaching, learning and practical training.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Oleh Campus, Engr. Prof. K.M. Oghenejoboh, urged the newly inducted engineers to uphold the core values of the profession, including integrity, competence, honesty, discipline and accountability.
He described the induction as a major milestone in their professional journey, reminding them that engineering was a critical profession with enormous responsibilities towards national development.
Oghenejoboh also highlighted the international opportunities available to Nigerian engineering graduates through the country’s membership of the Washington Accord, explaining that graduates of accredited engineering programmes could benefit from international recognition of their qualifications in member countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
He challenged the inductees to apply their knowledge and technical skills to solving pressing national challenges, particularly in infrastructure development, sustainable energy, transportation, manufacturing, digital transformation and environmental protection.
Speaking on behalf of 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 universities offering engineering programmes to sustain high academic standards and equip graduates with the competencies required to compete globally.
Aghagba, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Works, disclosed that about 123 universities in Nigeria currently offer engineering education through more than 622 programmes.
He noted that the country’s available educational resources, if properly harnessed, could support the production of at least 15,000 engineering graduates across various disciplines.
According to him, COREN has developed a checklist in line with international best practices to guide engineering education and ensure that students meet the required academic and professional standards throughout their training.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting DELSU in meeting the benchmarks of the Washington Accord through training, capacity development, accreditation and other quality assurance initiatives.
Aghagba emphasised the need for stronger partnerships among regulatory bodies, professional associations and universities, noting that such collaboration was essential to bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements.
He explained that effective collaboration would equip engineering graduates with the practical knowledge, competence and proficiency needed to excel in the workplace.
He commended DELSU for its contributions to academic development and congratulated the inductees, urging them to remain committed to the ethical demands and responsibilities of their chosen profession.
Similarly, Engr. Goodluck Ohwodo, who represented the NSE President, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, expressed satisfaction with the successful induction of the 282 graduates.
He urged the newly inducted engineers to complete their registration with COREN, describing professional registration as an essential requirement for their career development and eventual practice as registered engineers.
Ohwodo reminded them that engineering was governed by established ethical standards and regulations, which they must understand and observe throughout their careers.
He further charged the graduates to become worthy ambassadors of the profession by demonstrating diligence, integrity and professionalism in their dealings, stressing that their conduct would play an important role in sustaining public confidence in engineering.
Delivering the keynote lecture titled, “Ethical Issues and the Prospects of Young Engineers in an AI Generation,” Owamah warned the graduates against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence in their academic and professional activities.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI in simplifying tasks and providing useful information, he stressed that the technology could not replace professional judgement, integrity and the personal responsibility required of engineers.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor also encouraged the inductees to maximise the opportunities provided by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme by seeking placements and assignments that would allow them to apply their engineering knowledge and acquire practical experience.
He advised them against limiting their NYSC experience to classroom teaching when opportunities existed to participate in engineering-related activities and projects.
Owamah maintained that the future of engineering would depend not only on technical expertise but also on the character, ethical values and practical competence of the next generation of professionals.
The ceremony marked a new chapter for the 282 graduates, with a renewed call on them to uphold professional standards, embrace innovation and deploy their expertise towards Nigeria’s technological and infrastructural advancement.
