Abuja: Some engineering experts on Tuesday renewed their commitment to strengthening local content development and raising standards of excellence. The experts, who said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) Estate in Abuja, emphasised the growing need to prioritise home-grown innovation and skills development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), lauded the expertise engineers bring to bear in infrastructure development in Nigeria. He highlighted the international recognition Nigerian engineers are receiving through memberships in global alliances like the International Engineering Alliance, Washington Accord, Sydney Accord, and Dublin Accord.
The President of ACEN, Kam-Salem Bukar, detailed the plans for the ACEN project, which will include a Conference Centre, ACEN School of Consulting Engineering, Guest House, and Engineering Estate in Aviation Village. Bukar emphasized that the project aligns with ACEN’s objectives of promoting public welfare, engineering excellence, and sustainability.
Speaking on behalf of the project executors, Mr. Ayokunumi Adebajo, of Grandebricks Engineering Ltd., expressed confidence that the project has the potential to become a national benchmark for affordable housing. He assured that despite the focus on affordability, the developers would maintain world-class standards, offering a model that both government and private developers could emulate.
The ACEN Zonal Coordinator, North Central, Gbenga Ajayi, described the estate as a high-value investment opportunity, with an 18-month completion timeline. He highlighted the benefits of the ‘live-work-play’ model that combines residential and office complexes within one integrated space, promising immediate habitability and increasing value over time.