By CALEB AYANSINA

ABUJA – COUNCIL for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria COREN, has appealed to the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, to post graduate engineers to engineering firms for them to get practical knowledge of engineering work.

COREN President,  Kashim Ali noted that the posting became imperative in view of its relevance to infrastructural development. The COREN president made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja.

He explained that over 80 percent of government spending was on engineering infrastructures “therefore it follows that engineering personnel, either in public or private sector will always be involved in the execution of these projects.”

”The quality of engineering personnel handling these projects is therefore very critical. The DG, from your background as an engineer, you will no doubt agree with me that a graduate engineer without practical experience is at best, half-baked.

COREN aligns itself with your four-points agenda’ and wish to humbly appeal for your kind collaboration to ensure that engineering graduates are posted to engineering establishments only for their primary assignments, so that they can have the practical experience that is required for their future contributions to the growth of the nation,” Kashim pleaded.

He assured that the issue of engineering firms rejecting corps members would be addressed by the Council, adding that there is need to return to old practice when engineering firms wait for corps members to conclude their orientation exercise in order to pick them for the service year.

Responding, the Director General of NYSC, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi explained that as part of its efforts to address youth unemployment, NYSC has instituted an entrepreneurship pro-gramme which  covers the  engineering sector for corps members to get knowledge.

Olawumi said he would look into the Council’s request, but noted that corps members are posted in line with the new posting policy.