COREN Launches Forensic Investigation Certification Programme for Nigerian Engineers

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has announced a new initiative to certify engineers as forensic investigators, equipping them to investigate building collapses and other engineering failures across the country. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Prof. O.A.U. Uche, unveiled the programme at the opening of a three-day workshop on Engineering Failure and Forensic Investigation in Abuja on Monday. Participants who complete the training will be certified and added to a national register of specialists empowered to conduct forensic investigations on behalf of COREN across different engineering disciplines and locations.

The initiative aims to identify root causes of engineering failures, prevent future occurrences, and safeguard lives and property. Uche emphasized that the training extends beyond routine instruction, providing participants with the skills and tools necessary to conduct thorough forensic investigations whenever failures occur. He stressed that engineering failures carry devastating consequences that extend beyond infrastructure damage, often involving loss of human life. The registrar also expressed concern over the increasing tendency of some developers to overlook qualified professionals in construction projects, highlighting the critical importance of proper professional engagement and expert involvement in both design and failure investigation.

The workshop was organised by COREN in collaboration with the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCIN). It represents the second workshop in the series, following an earlier edition held in Lagos. COREN plans to expand this initiative to other parts of the country to build a wider pool of experts capable of investigating failures across different engineering sectors. While acknowledging that engineering structures can fail, Uche noted that such incidents could be drastically reduced through proper design, professional engagement, and thorough post-failure investigations.

Beyond the forensic investigation programme, COREN is pursuing full signatory status to the Washington Accord to secure wider international recognition for Nigerian-trained engineers. This status would enable Nigerian engineers to practise their profession in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries that are members of the International Engineering Alliance. Speaking on behalf of the COREN President, Council member Engr. Felix Ebuzoeme urged workshop participants to embrace continuous learning, uphold professional integrity, and mentor younger professionals to ensure ongoing advancement in the engineering field.