AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KADUNA

MECHANICAL AND GROUND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

GET 311, MEE305 ENGINEER IN SOCIETY, FOR HND 1

AUTHORIZED BY

UCHE E. UCHE (Ph.D)

AND

ENGR. FERDINAND INOBEME

FOR

FACULTY OF AIR ENGINEERING

APRIL 2021
ENGINEER IN SOCIETY (MEC 311)
Early Development of Technology

The period of reconstruction of Europe from the second world war (1946-1966) ruin led to or gave
birth to the concept of Technology and it brought about the Technological revolution of 70’s and
80’. Therefore it can be said that Technological Age started after the world war till today.

This age started from the machine age to the electronics (computer and microchip development)
which gave birth to micro technology, Robotics, Satellite and internet and Artificial intelligence age
of today.

As a matter of fact the quest of man for a better environment is what led man to develop engineering
and in turn technology. Man from the on-set of its life on earth has moved from place to place in this
search. Due to civilization man came to the realization that it can settle and make its environment a
better place by putting together the things he did not find in his place of abode.

Definition of Science

This is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and
behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Wikipedia defined Science as a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the
form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe

The Science Council defined Science as the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding
of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.

Science is also defined as the study of nature primarily to comprehend its mysteries, where the
nature refers to those things which were in existence such as the physical world before the man and
the man himself.

Science is the knowledge and the understanding of our natural world, it is the What, why and how of
things. It starts out by classifying and identifying things, by finding out why they happen and how
they happen in the course of time. This is the most difficult part of the world we live in; this is so
because if you do not understand the reason for the existence some things they can be abused.

Science and technology help each other to develop and advance, this is due to the fact that scientific
discoveries lead to technological breakthrough so also new technologies allow the scientist to
explore nature in different new ways therefore making new discoveries.

Some examples of science department are: Archaeology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology,

Botany, Geography, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics etc.

Science came to be as a result of man acquiring knowledge through the development, storage and
recalling of intelligence gathered over a period of time for application which is called thinking. As
man begins to apply this principle he began to develop better ways of doing things.

Science is the discovery of better way of doing things.

A scientist is therefore is anyone who takes personal interest in any particular area or aspect of the
world, with an inquisitive mind and will not rest until he finds answer to satisfactory explain the
natural phenomenon of his interest.

The scientist uses the methodology of Observation, Experimentation, Mathematical Postulations,

Assumptions and Deductions to come up with answers to the questions in his mind. When he
finishes his work he presents his findings in the form of Theory, Theorem, Hypothensis,
Mathematical equations, Formulas, Scientific Laws or a simple explanation of the natural
occurrence. This result of scientific work is called a discovery.

Definition of Engineering

Engineering is defined as the skillful art of applying known scientific principles in the conversion of
natural resources to serve a useful purpose for mankind in the society.

It can also be defined as the application of scientific principles to the skills of a Craftsman for the
purpose of meeting the material and comfort need of the society.

Engineering is defined as the art of applying scientific principles or laws with ingenuity for the
purpose of converting natural resources in the form of materials and energy skillfully into finished
products that will solve a problem of mankind in any given society.

This definition highlighted some component that engineering rely on to evolved as Natural
Resources, Skills, Scientific Principles and ingenuity. This new way of solving problems came to
be during the period of cottage industries which led to industrial revolution, therefore engineering is
said to have given birth to industrial revolution. A critical look at the quest capitalist/industrialist of
that time to have economical advantage in the production of goods/services was what led to the birth
of engineering.

Engineering was given birth to solve problems therefore an engineer is a problem solver.

An Engineer is a creative thinker, innovator, a builder and above all a problem solver. He is a
person who learns the skillful art of transforming scientific and mathematical principles into the
useful tools, machine, systems, processes structures or industrial products to solve man’s inherent
problems.

The Engineer employ the methodology of design, construction, testing, Research and Development
in his work. He is responsible for the operation and management of the facilities (maintenance of
machines, structures and systems) used by all in the society. The end product of engineering works is
called an invention which applies to machines or devices and an edifice in terms of physical
structures.

Components of Engineering

Natural resources are things that the man found in their environment which they did not have any
contribution in their creation, they met them in their natural environment which include the space
and physical condition the man exist in.
Skills define the ability to do something well with relative ease, which is usually acquired through
training and experience or it is the ease of carrying out a given task with enhanced capability
acquired through experience and practice.

Scientific principles are the fundamental element at work in scientific methods such as the way
things are rightly done (hypothesis, designing of an experiment, collecting and interpretation of the
results) to produce expected results.

They are general rules which can be followed while doing sciences or it can be rules that nature
follows to arrive at a particular outcome in the course of experiment.

They are also a set of rules which have being develop and proven over the years as a result of human
activities that gives an expected outcome.

Ingenuity is the ability to create, solve or conceives novel ideas that would convert scientific
principles to useful purpose. It is a natural ability that cannot be learnt in school. This is the most
important components of engineering and that is why people who have these natural abilities are
always invited to study engineering.

Ingenuity this is the ability to solve difficult problems often in original and creative ways. This
comes as a result of man’s quest to succeed and be better with each phase of his work.

Therefore it could be said that engineering is evolving daily with the application of ingenuity.

THE CONTRAST

There is a major contrast between the work of the Scientist and that of the Engineer. Whereas a
Scientist is a student of nature, an experimenter and a discoverer or an adventurer seeking
knowledge and experience; the Engineer is the user of the knowledge discovered by the scientists to
adopt them to a useful purpose using his ingenuity, skills, materials and energy.

The engineer relies on the knowledge provided by the Scientists for his progress. So without
Science, there would be no Engineering.

THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION

The practice of engineering profession is not exclusively for engineers. There are other practitioners
whose roles compliment that of the engineer for the achievement of the goals of the technical
industry. These are the Artisan/Craftsman, Technician, Technologist and Engineer. The structure
of the Engineering profession is pyramidal in nature consisting of four layers of cadres as shown
below:
ENGINEER

TECHNOLOGIST

TECHNICIAN

ARTISAN/CRAFTMAN

Each of these layers performs unique functions and the organization of work in the
engineering profession is such that all the four must be included in a given team in the
appropriate number. For instance, there should be more Technologists than Engineers in the
team and so forth.

DEFINITION OF ROLES

1. The Artisan/Craftsman: The Artisan or Craftsman is one who is skilled in the use of

hand-tools for making parts and components. They use hand and hand-tools in their work.

2. The Technician: The technician is skilled in the use of machines and equipment to produce
machine parts, components and tools. He does the physical construction work.

3. The Technologist: The technologist is not only skilled in the use of machine and how to
maintain them but also knows all the production processes and techniques, materials and their uses.
He also reads and interprets engineering drawings and specifications to be able to translate designs
into working products. He supervises the lower cadres in their work.

4. The Engineer : The engineer thinks, plans and designs solutions to identified problems and
presents his designs in the form of specifications and working drawings to guide the technologists
and technicians in the production of the designed solution.

ETHICS OF THE PROFESSION

Professional Ethics is made up of the expectations of the society from the profession. This in turn
translates into the Dos and Don’ts of the profession that every professional engineer is expected to
observe. Some of these expectations are:

1. The engineer must have proper regards for the safety, health and welfare of the public in the
performance of his/her professional duties.
2. The engineer must do whatever is practicable to assure the safety and reliability of his
products/projects and must be ready to accept responsibilities for personal errors.
3. The engineer should make a reasonable effort to inform himself as to the possible
consequences, direct and indirect, immediate and remote, of the project he is working on.
4. The engineer should avoid engagement in the production of machines or products or
participate in projects that will cause harm to humanity.
5. The engineer has the duty to inform the relevant authorities of any observed conditions,
which can endanger public safety and health in any project.
6. The engineer’s primary responsibility is to humanity, not self.

ENGINEERING EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

It is obvious from history that engineering started gradually and began to spread into all the areas of
human endeavor. After it had been established as a major tool for solving problem in the society
conscious efforts were now directed at making engineering approach to the solving of problems of
the society and making it a way of life. People with the skills and talents for solving problems were
now trained and educated on the principles of the engineering approach to the solution of the
problem.

The organization of engineering practice as a profession was preceded by the setting up of

engineering schools and training centers as avenues for exposure to field experience, setting up of
professional bodies to regulate the practice of engineering.

Engineering ethics and code of conduct in practical were put in place. In view of the importance of
education, training, retraining and acquisition of professional experience in the course of engineering
advancement, engineering education in developed societies is such that it is constantly appraised and
redesigned to reflect the socio-economic and technological needs at the society.

Engineering education is being used as a tool for accommodating technological change, make way
for technical advancement and thus providing for socio-economic upliftment in the wider society. In
this context an intense interaction and cooperation is being forged between academic institutions,
engineering research bodies, engineering research associations and government agencies on the one
hand and the industries on the other. These intentions include Manufacturing, Construction,
Agriculture, Petroleum, Chemical, Etc. engineering education and training is achieved in three ways:

1. Formal Training: Formal engineering training is established and recognized institutions in

which engineering instruction and dissemination of engineering principles take place in a
classroom environment.
2. Informal Training: An activity which deliberately attempts to a person’s skill at a task.
3. Learning from experience: is the improvement of a problem solving skill by the normal
execution of task and with no deliberate attempt at improvement.
ENGINEER
CHAPTER 2

HISTORY OF ENGINEERING

Since skill is a priced procession of those who have it, being the ability to accomplished difficult
task with minimum effort which leads to great rewards. Engineering and technology developed from
the use skills.

ENGINEERING FROM EARLY EGYPT CIVILIZATION

The Nile valley was known as the cradle of civilization because they were able to acquire skills. The
tools developed at that time led to extensive development of the Mediterranean. The people lived
safely as a result, were able to use the water for irrigation and for their use in their homes by
developing contraptions for fetching water and grinding in mills. The Egyptians learnt to make
plough, boats, and houses with great building like the pyramids.

These quickened the ancient Egyptian development of technology and it led to new art such as
carpentry, weaving, copper working, gold and iron smiting. Other areas of development are glass
making, pottery and boat making which became skillful arts.

With the growth came the idea of governance. From the Menes dynasty the history of Egypt was
passed on to the age of pyramid, then to the feudal age and the last and most glorious of the period
was the empire age. After tis the Egyptian empire grew weaker and was conquered by other nations.

Mesopotamia is a land between the Persian Gulf and the Palestine known as the Fertile Crescent.
Egypt was the first state and was by far the oldest continuous state. About 5,000 years ago in
Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, and shortly thereafter in Egypt, the emergence of ruling classes, religion,
writing, and cities formed the standard ingredients of what is refer to as civilization.

A rich delta and Nile valley and some very ingenious hydraulic engineering allowed for extensive
irrigation and highly productive farmlands. Under the influence of irrigation, “Former subsistence-
level farming gave way to the production of large surpluses of cereals that could be taxed, stored,
and redistributed.

Writing and reckoning were first and foremost practical technologies with practical origins meeting
practical needs. Knowledge in the first civilizations was subordinated to utilitarian ends and
provided useful services in record keeping, political administration, economic transactions,
calendrical exactitude, architectural and engineering projects, agricultural management, medicine
and healing.
The Egyptian engineers of Khufu’s time used very simple methods. Since they lacked pulleys, had
only copper, tin, bronze, and gold metals, and made very little use of the wheel, the exact methods
are unclear. However, tool marks on stone, quarries with blocks half detached, ancient tools found at
work sites, and ancient paintings give one the indication that the Egyptians used three key things,
according to De Camp – intensive and careful use of the simple instruments and devices they had,
such as sleds, barges, ramps, and ropes; unlimited manpower and the ability to organize and
command it; and, no need for haste.
II. ENGINEERING FROM THE ANCIENT GREEK CIVILIZATION
There were three main institutions in the ancient Greek world that contributed to science and
technology: Plato’s Academy, Aristotle’s Lyceum, and The Library of Alexandria. Plato’s Academy
and Aristotle’s Lyceum were focusing more on science; they were very influential institutions
operating as Schools or Universities charging tuition, and financially self-sustained. The museum
and Library of Alexandria established around 300 B.C. exerted long lasting influence over many
centuries; it was operating more like a research laboratory than a University and it was financially
dependent on the rulers of Egypt
One of the first inventions of the 5th century B.C., not widely known but very important, was the
starting mechanism in ancient stadiums, built to prevent untimely starts in races, called ‘hysplex’ (in
Greek) shown in Figure 1.

The order of Grecian Technology

In terms of chronological accomplishments and breakthroughs, the era of ancient Greek science is
divided into four major periods
i) The pre-Socratic period from 600 B.C. to about 400 B.C.
ii) 4th century B.C. (400-300) with main representatives Plato, Aristotle, the Epicureans and
Stoic philosophers.
iii) The Hellenistic (in Greek,) period, 300-100 B.C. with main representatives Euclid,
Archimedes, Apollonius. This has been coined as the Golden Era of science and technology.
During that period more direct interaction took place between the Greek and remnants of
older cultures.
iv) 100 B.C.–600 A.D. It was during that period that Greek science passed later on to the Arabs
and to the Latin West was epitomized, reorganized and subjected to extensive commentaries.

It is documented that the first major breakthrough contribution to autonomous mechanisms occurred
during the era of Pythagoras (who was Thales’ student for a few years). Archytas was not only the
inventor of the number ‘one’, 1 (the father of 1) in number theory, but he also was the first engineer.
By applying a series of geometric notions and observations to the study of structures, links and
joints, he created Machines.
Not only he was drawing mechanisms, he was also building them. As such, in 425 B.C. he created
the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle of all times by building a mechanical bird, a pigeon that could fly
by moving its wings getting energy from a mechanism in its stomach. This flying machine flew
about 200 meters. However, once all energy was used, the pigeon fell, landed, on earth and could not
fly or take off again.

The introduction of catapults changed the art of war. The first catapults appeared in Syracuse, during
the time of the tyrant Dionysius the Elder (Dionysius of Syracuse, 430 – 367 B.C.), who created the
first ever scientific research center. The widest and most well-known use of catapults occurred
during the reign of Philip of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great who perfected the use of
catapults to gain advantage in battles against their enemies.
Catapult shown in Figure 2 and 3

Mechanical achievements during those centuries were very significant. The world had one of the
greatest geniuses, Archimedes, who devised remarkable weapons to protect his native Syracuse
from the Roman invasion and applied his powerful mind to such basic mechanical devices as the
screw, the pulley, and the lever. Alexandrian engineers, such as Ktesibius and Heron, invented a
wealth of ingenious mechanical contrivances including pumps, wind and hydraulic organs,
compressed air engines, and screw cutting machines. They also devised toys and automata that may
be regarded as the first successful steam turbine. In a sense, the School of Alexandria provided a
starting point for modern mechanical practice.
Engineering from the Ancient Roman Civilization
Rome stated in the 735BC with two brothers Remus and Romulus. It was located in the Latin with
the people called Latinium. The romans were the first to become a republic and they harnessed other
smaller communities, to become a major power broker in the Mediterranean by defeating the
Cartage. By this experience they conquered other empires like Greece, Macedonian, Syria, Asia
Minor and Egypt. In 200BC there was discontentment amongst the various people which lead to
civil war and Julius Caesar size power.
The Roman Empire suffered attacks from the Barbarians and other small nations around it until it
fell in 476 AD. Another reason for the fall of Rome was the advent of Christianity which changed
the people’s belief and loyalty to the state and emperors.
The Romans were great builders of roads, bridges, multi-level houses and large cities. Each of the
cities had forums, basilicas, court houses, temples, fountains and wide paved streets. They built
aqueducts in other to carry water for great distance; the running water altered the course of history.
They developed chains of inns (hotel) where people could stay in course of journeys. The Romans
developed water proof concrete that enabled them to build large structures. They also introduced the
use of arches to save material when they had to build walls more than six and half feet from the
ground.

EVALUATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENGINEERING

i. Early engineering contributed to the building large engineering building through the
introduction of tools for cutting stones, metals [Link] pantheon’s domelasted1800years.
ii. Lifting of water and transportation of same over great distances
iii. Building of roads and bridges (the romans at 312BC constructed a paved 132miles
highway)
iv. It led to the introduction and sustenance of marine travels with constant innovations.
v. Wind technology and development of wind mills that led to the development of wind
turbine for the generation of energy.
vi. Development of engines which led to critical
vii. Building of various craft for traveling which include the aircraft.
viii. Early engineering bequeathed time and calendar to the society.
ix. It also gave rise to the use of letters and writing.
x. Lifting technology using cranes, ropes, pulleys and capstans came from the Greek world

EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEMS OF ENGINEERING

i. The people were not free but were in bondage to the leaders of their time.
ii. There was no proper documentation of the development of engineering before writing
was developed.
iii. Their works were to glorify their masters the Kings because of the believe that they have
deity power even after death.
iv. They were more into science and spirituality (religion) than to engineering that why they
were contented.
v. They mainly engaged in manual labour to do their works this was evident in the thriving
of slave trade.
THE Medieval Time (Middle Age)
When the Roman Empire fell, the western half of the Roman Empire had fragmented into smaller,
weaker kingdoms. There was no single large civilized human society for quite a while. This period is
known in history of Europe as the MEDIEVAL time (Middle Ages) and lasted from about AD 350
to about AD 1450. By the end of this period many modern European states had taken shape. The
village community which was the most representative of all village communities in the then Roman
Empire is the German “Mark” – the ancient Teutonic Village. This village is now the nation state of
Germany in Europe.

It was during this time, the precursors of many modern institutions, such as universities and bodies
of representative government, were created. There was no single event that ended the ancient world
and began the Middle Age. But by the end of the Middle Age there were nearly 80 universities
throughout Europe, in France, Italy, and Spain, Prague, Heidelberg, and Cologne in Poland and the
Scandinavia. This signifies the period of great quest for knowledge and literary works. Pursuit of
knowledge in Law, Medicine and Philosophy was at the forefront.

THE RENAISSANCE
The RENAISSANCE refers to the period of Rebirth of civilization which took place in the 14 th, 15th
and 16th centuries. It was a period of cultural and literary change. It was also the period of greater
interest in scientific study and Astrology. It was the period of reawakening of commercial and
industrial activities in the western half of Europe notably England, France, Spain, Portugal and
Germany. During the Middle Age the classless society of the Barbarians in the northern part of
Europe helped to resuscitate the advancement of technical activities. This was possible because the
Barbarians had acquired improved technical skills during the Iron Age.

Also the new humanitarian ethics of Christianity and the fact that the monarchy of the Age combined
scholarship with manual labour helped in no small measure to further resuscitate technical
innovation. The new development led to the development of industrial activities through the
framework of gilds, or group of masters belonging to a certain trade. The main purpose of the gilds
was to protect ingenious artisanship. This new phenomenon contributed to boosting incentive to
invent and improve upon existing inventions. The incentive led to the people acquiring capability to
adopt and develop techniques borrowed from elsewhere; a phenomenon which the Greeks before
their fall failed to adopt.

WESTERN CIVILIZATION
Western Civilization started in mid Western Europe in the 16 th Century. This was the time when
human settlements in Western Europe started developing fast putting the bits and pieces of the fallen
Roman Empire together. One major feature of this Civilization is the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
of 1750 – 1850 AD. It is very significant in the history of the development of human societies
because it is the cradle of modern (Western) civilization.

Before the Industrial Revolution Europe as a whole was purely Agrarian. Operating an agrarian
economy means that everyone depended solely on land. Land ownership and land tenure was the
major means of economic power. The Landlords were the movers and shakers of the economy
because they owned the means of economic production.

After the Industrial Revolution in Europe and America, came the INDUSTRIAL AGE (1850 –
1950). This was followed by the periods of the WORLD (1914 – 1918; 1939-1945) which
interrupted the progress of industrialization in Europe and Asia for a total of eighty years.

The period of reconstruction of Europe from the ruins of the Second World War (1946-1966), gave
birth to the concept of TECHNOLOGY which brought about the TECHNOLOGICAL
REVOLUTION of the 70s and 80s. This is to say that the TECHNOLOGY AGE started after the
Second World War and has continued up till today.

The achievements recorded in the development of technology in the area of Electronics [The
Computer and Microchip development or micro Technology, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence,
Computer Networking and the Internet as well as Satellite Communication etc] has lead the
transition of technological progress from around 1960 to the turn of century in 1999, into the new
Millennium, year 2000 (Y2k).

Today we are living in the AGE of INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and COMMUNICATION

(ITC) and the Age of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Story of the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a British phenomenon which took place in the period between 1750-
1850AD. It typifies the period of rapid development of England and other European Countries
through Industrialization i.e the building of Machines to replace human labour in the processing of
agricultural products and production of other basic needs of the society through manufacturing. A
further development of the ideas first muted by the inventors of the spinning wheel and the wooden
Loom lead to the spread of the concept of mechanization of manual production into other areas of
human endeavor.

As has already been stated, 1750 England was an agrarian Country, with 80% population living in
the Countryside (rural areas). Urban Centres were few. But the revolutionary change which was to
have a significant influence on the total way of life of the people started off in the Urban Centres
which had become the locations for the Mills and Industries. This change principally entailed the
initially slow and gradual but later sudden and revolutionary shift of the means of production from
those employing skilled workers, to those employing machines that required fewer skilled hands to
operate, yet being more productive and cheaper to maintain.

The change also entails the shifting of emphasis from the traditional occupation of farming to
manufacturing. This largely drew workers from the lands in the Country to the Mills in the towns
because it was more lucrative and did not require special skills. Along with this shift was the break
from the Country beliefs and traditions of the pre-Christian Stone Age farmers and the adoption of
the loose and freer life style of the urban centres, which came to be known as the “Western
Lifestyle”.
By the end of the Nineteenth Century (1880 AD) England was unrecognizably different from its
condition in 1780; i.e life in the society was no longer based on the “country” lifestyle but on
“township” lifestyle; people were no longer dependent on the land for subsistence but on machines
and manufacturing: economic production was no longer dependent on heavily physical skilled labour
but on factory conditions; processed food was plentiful and varied and freely sold in shops and
markets. There were more opportunities for the people to work, render service or do business. As a
result of freeing people from the land, education to a certain level had become universal. There was
a general feeling that life had become easier.

It is not just the change in methods of doing things that is significant about this period but rather the
fact that the new techniques of production brought with it, a new way of living.(this is comparable to
the transition in STONE AGE times from SAVAGERT to AGRICULTURE).

It is the swiftness of the change in the way of life of the society (in just 100 years.), the almost
sudden nature of the change that makes it a revolution. And being brought about by the
developments in the industrial sector, it is aptly tagged The “Industrial Revolution”.

The Significance of the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution is significant in many ways because of the role it played in the quick
transformation of Europe from the largely agrarian society it was, to the fast developing economic
giant that it became by the turn of the century. Some points of significance worthy of note are:

1. Wealth Creation: The Industrial Revolution is significant for the abundant wealth it created
for the countries of Western Europe and later America, which made a tremendous impact in
the upliftment of the living standard of the people possible.
2. Freedom: It created a sense of freedom, comfort and ease of living for the urban dwellers
which resulted in the Rural-Urban drift with people moving away from the country life to
settle and adapt to the life in the towns and urban centres.
3. Hospitality: It made possible free trade of goods and services in the hospitality sector such as
Saloons, Laundry, Hotels, Restaurants, Taxis and other Public Societies and the cradle of
Western Civilization (which is Modern civilization).
4. Birth of Engineering: Great inventions were prominent during this time and activities that
culminated in todays engineering also started at that time.
5. Industralization: Since the industrial revolution, human societies have been able to cope with
the development of engineering approach to problem solving and have introduce various
machine in all sectors of industry to boost production and enhance productivity.
6. Product dependent life style: the industrial revolution created a wide variety of industrial
finished products, which in turn generated huge demand for them with the consequence of
people becoming dependent on such products.
7. Birth of Multinational Companies: The Industrial revolution heralded the formation in
Europe of the Multinational Companies such as UAC, PZ, LEVENTIS, SCOA,
CHALLARAMS, CHANRIS, and KINGSWAY stores etc, as distribution chains and retail
outlets for industrial products of the west to reach other parts of the world.
CHAPTER 3

STATE THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

So many people have warned of the adverse nature of increase advancement of technology, arguing
that it will lead to the destruction of the world we live in. Nikolas Kompridis has warned about the
dangers of new technology, such as genetics, engineering, nanotechnology and robotics He warns
that these technologies introduce unprecedented new challenges to human beings, including the
possibility of the permanent alteration of our biological nature.
This is the state of technology being a cause rather than a blessing to the human society such as:
i. Deliberate takeover of some communities by the supposed more powerful ones.
ii. The development of war head such as resulted to the first and second world war.
iii. The development and use of atomic weapons has segregated our communities.
iv. The development of vehicles of any form has led to men being overweight and obese.
v. More and more people because of recent technological advances are increasingly losing
their jobs.
vi. Studies have shown clear links between recent technology advances and the increase in
wages in the last decades.
vii. The invention of technology has led to death of many citizens without the art of war
due to accident.
viii. Most notoriously, evidence is mounting that the carbon dioxide pumped into the air by
the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the planet’s temperature and threatens
disruptive effects on climate.
IX. With widespread use of fertilizers and high-temperature industrial combustion, humans
have doubled the rate at which nitrogen is removed from the air relative to pre-
industrial times, contributing to smog and acid rain, polluting drinking water, and even
worsening global warming

ILLUSTRATION OF THE ROLE OF MATERIALS IN TECHNOLOGY

Material development has in many ways change technological development which starting from the
stone age to the current artificial intelligence of today where cameras are now use for facial detection
and crimes are easily prevented. Recently the whole of Europe is currently engaged in the
investigation of the use of this technology in a trial form. Tools from the early years were developed
from materials in our environment that made our work very easy.

Human's technological ascent began in earnest in what is known as the Neolithic Period ("New
Stone Age"). The invention of polished stone axes was a major advance that allowed forest clearance
on a large scale to create farms. The use of polished stone axes increased greatly in the Neolithic, but
was originally used in the preceding Mesolithic in some areas such as Ireland. Agriculture fed larger
populations, and staying in one place allowed simultaneously the raising of more children, as infants
no longer needed to be carried, as the nomad did. Additionally, children could contribute labor to the
raising of crops more readily than they could to the hunter-gatherer economy.
The oldest known constructed roadways are the stone-paved streets of the city-state of Ur, dating to
circa 4000 BCE and timber roads leading through the swamps of Glastonbury, England, dating to
around the same time period. The first long-distance road, which came into use around 3500 BCE,
spanned 1,500 miles from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea, but was not paved and was
only partially maintained. In around 2000 BCE, the Minoans on the Greek island of Crete built a
fifty-kilometer (thirty-mile) road leading from the palace of Gortyn on the south side of the island,
through the mountains, to the palace of Knossos on the north side of the island. Unlike the earlier
road, the Minoan road was completely paved.
The innovative revolution continued through the middle ages with innovations such as silk, the horse
collar and horseshoes in the first few hundred years after the fall of the Roman Empire. Medieval
technology saw the use of simple machines (such as the lever, the screw, and the pulley) being
combined to form more complicated tools, such as the wheelbarrow, windmills and clocks.
The Renaissance brought forth many of these innovations, including the printing press (which
facilitated the greater communication of knowledge), and technology became increasingly associated
with science, beginning a cycle of mutual advancement. The advancements in technology in this era
allowed a more steady supply of food, followed by the wider availability of consumer goods with the
advent of tractors, harvesters and process industries.

IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

The invention of the wheel revolutionized trade and war. It did not take long to discover that
wheeled wagons could be used to carry heavy loads in the transport industry. The ancient Sumerians
used the potter's wheel and may have invented it. A stone pottery wheel found in the city-state of Ur
dates to around 3429 BCE, and even older fragments of wheel-thrown pottery have been found in
the same area. Fast (rotary) potters' wheels enabled early mass production of pottery, but it was the
use of the wheel as a transformer of energy (through water wheels, windmills, and even treadmills)
that revolutionized the application of nonhuman power sources. The first two-wheeled carts were
derived from travois and were first used in Mesopotamia and Iran in around 3000 BCE.

Starting in the United Kingdom in the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was a period of great
technological discovery, particularly in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, mining, metallurgy,
and transport, driven by the discovery of steam power. Technology took another step in a second
industrial revolution with the harnessing of electricity to create such innovations as the electric
motor, light bulb, and countless others.

Scientific advancement and the discovery of new concepts later allowed for powered flight and
advancements in medicine, chemistry, physics, and engineering. The rise in technology has led to
skyscrapers and broad urban areas whose inhabitants rely on motors to transport them and their food
supply. Communication was also greatly improved with the invention of the telegraph, telephone,
radio and television. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a revolution in transportation with
the invention of the airplane and automobile.

Since its discovery, fossil fuels had remained the dominant sources of energy used for industrial
power. However the precise timetable for their depletion which is not known, oil and gas supplies
will not keep up with growing energy demands. Coal is available in abundance, but its use creates air
and water pollution problems, and coal contributes even more substantially than the other fossil fuels
to the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Today the use of renewable energy is driven
greatly for industrial use as there is no more fear of pollution. The discoveries of wind and solar
energy industries are changing the face of energy generation for the manufacturing industries.
CHAPTER 4

UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

3.1.1. Early Indigenous Technology in Nigeria
Indigenous is used to describe a thing that originates or occur naturally in a country, region, etc.
For anything to be indigenous, it must belong to the people in question rather than being alien to
them. It is wrongly assumed that African people are backward because the means of production
known among the Europeans were not present in Africa or because our ancestors used different
methods to build their houses, to farm, to dress and to cure themselves of physical or spiritual
distress. There is an argument that these countries have remain under developed because the
technology they practice is not appropriate for their environment.
Although there is no history of how technology started in Nigeria, but the natives like their
contemporaries in Europe and Asia out of the quest for good environment and welfare would
have come to the use of adaptable contraption for their lively, the use of stones tools and building
with mud and thatched roofs with leaves etc.
In the northern Nigeria the Nok people had the Nok image which was cast out of the Bronze and
iron existed between the 500BC to 200BC.
The Benin’s are in the art of casting brass, bronze, gold and silver images of various shapes is
also dated earlier than the kingdom which existed between 1440-1897.
The Saki people of the Oyo and Ekiti are known for their Aluminum pot casting which was a
tradition they came with from the Ghana.
The Nupe’s had traditional iron smelting technology as well as the Egba’s in Ogun state in the
early 19th century.

3.2. Influence of the foreign technology on the Nigeria Indigenous Technology.

The believe of most African and the underdeveloped countries was that their independence will
lead them to development and their problem will be solved. But till this time they are still
dependent on the developed countries for their technological needs. This is what has led to the
classification of the world into these three.
Developed world
Developing world
Underdeveloped world
These are referred to as the least developed, poor or third world countries of Africa and South
America.
The developing countries sometime referred to as ‘Economic tigers’ of Asia, Some South
American Countries and Easter Europeans countries.
The developed countries referred to the advanced, industrialized or first world countries which
include the economic giants of Europe, Far East and North Americans.
Underdeveloped world-: These countries are classified as such using the following criteria’s such
as organization of production, income levels and the levels of technology available in the
country. The production of good and services in the least developed countries is characterized by
lack of infrastructure and intensive labour use. There are hardly any organized industries in the
countries, they have low level of income and most citizens live below poverty line which can be
attributed to low technology.
Developing Countries-: these are characterized as having some sort of technology which are
outdated and obsolete, the industries in these countries are large assembly plants. The income
level in is low but not as low as that of the least developed country. This is the category where
Nigeria falls. Take a look at the various refineries, failed car assembly plants (Volkswagen in
Lagos, Peugeot in Kaduna and Anamco (Mercedes) in Enugu), Ajokuta Steel Plant in Kogi,
Textile plants in Kaduna. They give a picture of the gory impact of the foreign Technology in
Nigeria.
Most of our products are raw materials from agriculture and minerals. While what we consumes
come from the so highly technologically developed nation through importation because we lack
the necessary technology to process our raw materials. Therefore we are amongst the nations
who are technologically dependent on the industrialized nations.

Industrialized or developed Nations-: They are characterized by state of the art technologies,
which is clear from the departure from the heavy metal industries to the electronics and services
types. The citizens of such nations enjoy very high income (with good GDP), a good standard of
living and they enjoy the high production from the organized and automated industries.

3.3 The Main Features of Nigerian’s Policy on Technology

Nigeria do not want to be technologically dependent on the industrialized nations for ever as
such they have outlined ways of improving in their technological quest.
The following were outline in the policy framework:
i. Development of appropriate technology
This is the technology or a know-how which is developed to help the poor to help
themselves, it is self -developed to meet the basic need that have not being satisfied
which is directed towards the situation of the poor who are the majority of the population.
 It is describe as technology of the people by the people and for the people.
 It is not inferior technology because it is not supposed to prolong the dependence
on the high income or developed countries.
 It must be a stepping stone for the process of development resulting from
adaptation or effective use of advance technology which have been improve on to
local technology.
This is where the introduction of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and cooperatives
groups but the major problem of Nigeria is that we pay more of lips services to these
policies and do not follow up with the necessary backing.
Financial empowerment in forms of loans and grants when allocated are not distributed to
the right quarter.
Characteristics of Appropriate Technology
 It must be low in capital cart
 It must use local materials where possible
 It must create job by employing the local skills and labour
 It must be small enough in scale to be affordable by a small group
 Its simplicity can be understood, controlled and maintained by the villagers without a
high level of education
 It must be locally produce local
 It is to involve decentralization of energy such as wind power, solar energy, water
power, animal power and pedal power.
 It must have flexibility to enable users adapt it to different situation.
 It must be compatible with local culture and practice of the people.
 It should increase the use of local materials
 It should reduce pollution of the natural environment.
 It should be socially and culturally compatible with the people

ii. Technology Transfer

Since there is a differential technology gradient between the advanced and the least developed
countries, there is the tendency to have a flow from high to low technologically advanced
countries.
There are three phases of technology transfer which every country is called to play in:
Material transfer – this involve the physical transfer of hardware component of technology
from the highly developed to the less developed ones such equipment and machineries, it can
also come in the form of finished products such as cars and electronic products.

Design Transfer- this refers to transfer of ideas and design of machinery and process to the
developing countries.

Capacity transfer- is the movement of management and other capabilities requirement to turn
materials and design transfer to tangible products and services, it is usually in form of training
for capacity building.
Technological Transfer is dependent on two conditions
i. Technology must be in existence or be generated at one end
ii. There should be incentive to adapt and use the technology on the other end
Technology transfer in Nigeria is in two way
i. Vertical transfer which is from the industrialized nation to Nigeria such as Russia and
Nigeria in Ajaokuta.
ii. Lateral transfer which is from Nigeria to other developing nations such as what took
place in the 70s between Nigeria and Malaysia
In Nigeria technological transfer has taken place through different route such as:
Bilateral co-operations
Industrial Development
Educational
Trainings
Commercial Development
Conferences and Workshops
Journals and Books
Technological Espionage
Assignment; write short not on the above route of technological transfer?
DEVEELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING IN NIGERIA
In Nigeria the development of technology and engineering practice date back to pre-historic times
and subsequently followed the development of empires and kingdoms in the pre-colonial times. The
rich cultural heritage of the different tribes in Nigeria are evidence that there existed technologies
through which different artifacts were made eg the Benin bronze etc.
Modern technologies and engineering came with colonialization and gradually replaced what was
existing. The origin of organized engineering and technology practice can be traced to the colonial
administration. In order to exploit the resources of the hinterlands the colonialist who came through
the sea coasts built roads, water ways bridges and railways all over the country. In addition the
public utilities were established including electricity, water, schools, and transportation systems.
The first engineering structure of any magnitude during the colonial era was the carter bridge which
was built to connect Lagos Island with Iddo in 1985.
The lagos government railway was established in Iddo and in 1896 the narrow gauge railway line
from Ebute Metta to develop the hinterland was began. The first phase from lagos to Ibadan was
opened to traffic in 1900. Then continued northward with its branches to the various part of the
Easter and Northern Nigeria(Williams 1980). The other works in those days were roads construction
(mainly untarred) including culverts and bridges, minor water works and buildings. There was
practically no opportunity for young engineers to gain design experience ( the core of engineering
profession) as all major design were done in England through the crown agents. Rather the young
engineers who joined the Public Works Department (PWD) was first given a short orientation course
in the account section and in the soil testing laboratory before being sent to the field as an assistant
to a senior engineer on the site construction work. There was practically no contractors indigenous
or expatriates so that the question of gaining experience in the private sector did not arise.
Today however, there are federal Ministries of Works and housing, industries, Science and
technologies, Agriculture, Water resources and commerce etc all involved in the development and
management of technology and engineering related activities. To complement the above there are
counterpart ministries and parastatals in the states and local governments areas. Engineering and
technology have also grown considerably in the private sector of the Nigerian economy over the
years.
In the petroleum sector engineering and technology activities are used to mine crude and refine it to
petroleum products. Some of the engineering firms involve in these include Nigerian National
Petroleum Cooperation, Shell, mobi, Total and Chevron etc. Many roads are built today by private
engineering companies including Julius Berger, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), MCC,
Wadel and Eric etc.
The major cities in Nigeria host a large number of manufacturing companies/industries that apply
engineering and technological principles in the production and distribution of goods and services
these include Lever Brothers, Patterson Zochonis (PZ), PAN, Cocacola, Pepsi, etc. In addition there
are many schools such as Universities and polytechnics, Colleges all over the country where
engineering principles are taught and practice.
It should however be noted that the engineering, scientific and technological activities in the country
are limited to operation and maintenance of imported technology, consequently professional
development activities in the industry have been limited in both scope and objectives.
3.4 Evaluate The Present State of Technology in Nigeria
The technological state of Nigeria is and has always been in the developing stage, though we have
engage in all that is stated above we are yet to develop our appropriate technology and the
transferred technology is yet to bring in the desired result. Although we cannot blame the advance
countries with high technology because like we stated above there has to be a sincere desire and
incentive to adapt for the transfer before it can work. Yet they have responsibility for the non-
performance of the industries they started and are no longer functioning.
On the part of our government and all concerned, there is no commitment in ensuring that the
technology that has being transferred is continuously developed.
Corruption in government at all levels has had an adverse effect in the state of our technological
development.
The cost of the transfer of this technology has become very expensive due to corruption and the cost
of dollar exchange in Nigeria.
Nigeria today has remained underdeveloped because we have refused to study the very well the
avenues provided by the window of transfer of technology.

ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER

i. Acquisition of knowledge
ii. Training and developmental benefit to government/citizens
iii. Technological transfer leads to cultural transfer
iv. Improvement of communication and transportation
v. Infrastructural development
vi. Improve yield and profitability
vii. Improved buildings and comfort in building
viii. Improved materials selection process
ix. It brought trade liberalization.
x. Improved GDP
xi. Increase in individual earnings

DISADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER

i. The advance countries have always given a part of their technical knowhow and not all
They are always interested in bring in very large companies machineries that have not being able to transfer
the total technology to the indigenes.

ii. The transfer of technology has made the low technology countries perpetually dependent
on the advance countries
iii. From their position having an appropriate technology is not possible as their equipment
will not work with locally fabricated parts
iv. It leads to economic slavery
v. Obsolete technology transferred leading to dead huge companies.
Questions:
Professional development activities for the Nigerian engineer in Nigerian industries have been
limited in both scope and objective- discuss
Discuss the three model of responsibility at the disposal of the engineer to cope with the ethical
demand of his profession.

IMPLICATION OF LIMA TARGET

United nation general assembly has been entrusted with establishing the main principles of
industrialization and defining the means by which the international community as a whole might
take action of a broad nature in the field of industrial development within the framework of new
forms of international co-operation, with a view to the establishment of a new international
economic order.
They agreed that the situation of industrialization in the developing countries during the past decade
has not received the desired growth therefore industrialization in terms of international action on
development has lost momentum since 1970.
General Assembly on the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New
International Economic Order, according to which every effort should be made by the international
community to take measures to encourage the industrialization of the developing countries with a
view to increasing their share in world industrial production, as envisaged in the International
Development Strategy. The charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States adopted at the twenty-
ninth session of the General Assembly as an instrument designed to bring about new international
economic relations and to contribute to the establishment of a new international economic order.
They are convinced that peace and justice has an economic dimension to bring about the solution of
the world economic problems, the liquidation of under-development, offering a lasting and definitive
solution to the industrialization problem for all peoples and guaranteeing to all countries the right to
implement freely and effectively their development programmes.

To this effect, it is necessary to eliminate threats and resort to force and to promote peaceful co-
operation between States to the fullest extent possible.

To apply the principles of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, full equality of rights,
respect of national independence and sovereignty as well as to encourage the peaceful co-operation
between all States, irrespective of their political, social and economic systems.

A further improvement of international relations will create better conditions for international co-
operation in all fields which should make possible large financial and material resources to he used.

They stated further that the remaining vestiges of alien and colonial domination, foreign occupation,
racial discrimination, and the practice of apartheid, and neo-colonialism in all its forms continue to
be among the greatest obstacles to the full emancipation and progress of the developing countries
and their populations.

They agreed that the economic woes of the developing nation is hinged on the unacceptable
practices of those transnational corporations that infringe the principle of sovereignty of developing
Countries.
The effects of the inflationary increase in the import costs of developing countries, the pressures
exerted upon their balance of payments particularly by such factors as heavy foreign debt servicing,
the aggravation of the international monetary crisis, and the transfers resulting from private
investment and that this situation is not conducive to the spirit of the new international economic
order.

Recognizing that problems of industrial development in developing countries at their present stage
of development do not lie entirely in those countries hut also arise from the policies of most of the
developed countries, and that without meaningful changes in the economic policies of the developed
countries, the achievement of the objectives of a new international order would be in serious
jeopardy.

They noted with anxiety that the present international crisis has aggravated the industrialization
problems of the developing countries, resulting, among other things the under-utilization of
resources, constraints in the planning and execution of industrial projects and increasing costs of
industrial inputs, equipment and freight charges.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE LIMA’S SUGGESTIONS

The formulation of long-term and clearly defined industrialization plans and strategies which rest in
the first place on national effort and the introduction of concrete measures and institutional
machinery for their execution, continuous appraisal and, if necessary, adjustment. Appropriate
attention should be given to the development of the government sector and national planning:

In the formulation of industrialization plans and strategies, the characteristics of each country in the
light of its social and economic structure should be given due consideration. In addition, social
justice should be a guiding factor in achieving the objectives of raising the living standards and
eliminating extreme social disadvantages and unemployment, particularly among young people. To
this end, proper industrial development should permit such growth as is required for economic
development and should also be a powerful factor for the promotion of technology and growth in
other sectors, and the realization of the aspirations of mankind. It should also, by the orientation of
its objectives, make a positive contribution to world peace.

The promotion of an integrated industrialization process based on the potential of each country, with
the object of achieving the highest degree of interaction between industry and the other sectors of the
economy, in particular, agriculture, by setting up agro-industrial research centres, developing new
agricultural areas and introducing new crops for industrial purposes.

The equitable distribution of the benefits of industrialization among all sectors of the population;

The intensive use of national resources, infrastructural development and internal regional
development placing particular emphasis on employment policies, as well as full and intensive
utilization and on-the-spot processing of raw materials;

The establishment of production facilities covering all branches of industry aimed at meeting the
needs of both internal and external markets in particular through:
(i) The establishment of basic industries such as steel, metallurgical and petro-chemical industries
that constitute the indispensable basis for any industrialization;
(ii) The establishment of integral industries such as mechanical engineering, electrical and chemical
industries to provide the necessary link between the different industrial sectors and to give the
developing countries the basis on which the building up of technology will principally rely;
(iii) The creation of manufacturing and processing industries to satisfy the needs of the population
for consumer goods and to rapidly develop local production for the purpose of replacing imports and
increasing exports;

Encouragement and support of small, medium-scale and rural industry and industries which fulfill
the basic needs of the population and which contribute to the integration of different sectors of the
economy; and to this end due attention should also be given to the industrial co-operatives as means
of mobilizing the local human, natural and financial resources for the achievement of national
objectives of economic growth and social developments.

Achievement of a higher degree of efficiency in import substitution processes and the formulation of
appropriate incentive measures to encourage the export of manufactured and semi-manufactured
products with the highest possible local content and value-added potential from the developing
countries, in particular from the least developed and land-locked countries.

Development and strengthening of public, financial and other institutions in order to protect and
stimulate industrial development of the developing countries, in particular, the basic, rural, small,
medium-scale and labor-intensive industries.

Sound economic policies to assure economic stability and facilitate adequate domestic savings rates
commensurate with industrial development objectives;
CHAPTER 5

UNDERSTANDING TECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

The structure of Technical education in Nigeria
The education and training of persons in the industries is very important for the practice of
engineering to be successful, the younger generation of engineering professional must be very well
educated, trained and skilled in the practice of their various professions.
This education of the various professionals which are in cadre must follow a pattern specified in the
technical and engineering training curriculum.
The cadres are as follows;
Artisans / Craftsmen – the artisans and craftsmen must be trained to recognize and use
engineering tools (both hand tools and machine powered tools), materials for the production
operation and maintenance of engineering facilities, product and services. Their training
involved both theoretical and practical education. Some people believe that their training is
only practical.
To formally qualify as a craftsman, the candidate is expected to attend a formal and approved
Vocational training Centre, there are technical schools all over Nigeria and some Vocational
centers were theories and practical works are taught, accompanied with industrial practical
experience. They are expected to be certified by City and Guild trade test certificate or Basic
Education Certificate Examination (BACE) at the end of a three year programme. They are
admitted into the programme after going through primary and junior Secondary school. Note
that there are many categories of this artisan and craftsmen that went through informal
training to acquire the skills such as plumber, masons and mechanics etc. these trainings are
acquired through apprenticeship with more experienced professionals for upward of 5-
10years depending on the age of the candidate. The training procedures are not good for the
industries as most of the product are illiterates and promote quackery.

Technicians- this is the next in hierarchy of the education of the technology and engineering
family, the technician is a bit different from the craftsmen. They are apply known techniques
in engineering practices and faults diagnosis. They are trained as craftsmen so as to be able to
work alongside other craftsmen on jobs. The technicians hold the national diploma (ND) in
an area of engineering which is obtained after two years in any approved polytechnic or
mono-technic such as college of technology or College of Agriculture followed by a few
months of industrial attachment for a Student Work Experience Scheme (SWES). A
prospective candidate will require a 4 credit in subjects relevant to the areas of specialization
and as of recent 5 credits and the application is through JAMB Unitary Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME).
Technologists- The technologist in Nigeria are educated at the Polytechnic or Colleges of
Technology just like the Technician. The technologist also undergoes a two years theoretical
programme of Higher National Diploma with a four months industrial attachment in the
relevant industry. After the two year programme a certificate is awarded for a Higher
National Diploma. Admission requirement is the National Diploma certificate from a
recognized institution and at least one year post-industrial practical experience in the relevant
area. Currently the admission is unlike the national diploma where JAMB conducts their
entrance examination, each school is responsible and they spell out their subject combination
for each course. The prospective technologist must possess a five credit pass with
compulsory Mathematics and English to gain admission into the course of their choice.
Their industrial experiences are supervised by the industrial Training funds organization.

Engineers – the role of the engineer in the technology family is that of supervisory, his
training is broad so as to be able to synthesize ideas, design a new system, plants and
machineries, plans and manage complex mixture of resource (Men, Materials, Machineries
and Money) found in the industries. The prospective engineer is expected to run a five year
course, and a four year course with those with National Diploma or advance level Interim
Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) direct entry through Jamb into 200 levels. The student is
expected to run three months and six months practical industrial experience sponsored by the
Industrial Training Fund.
The entry qualification is five Ordinary level subjects from secondary school, a combination
spelt out by JAMB (Mathematic, English and the basic sciences) and an examination is
conducted. A candidate that scaled through the JAMB examination is further subjected to
Post Unitary Tertiary matriculation examination by the school of choice. The admission is
jointly given by the JAMB and the school.

Impact of Technical Education

The goals of technical and vocational Education
i. It is to provide adequate man power in the applied sciences, technology, craft and
advance craft at all technical levels.
ii. They are to provide technical knowledge and vocational skills in agriculture, commercial
and economic development in the country.
iii. They are to give training and impart all necessary skills to individual for self-reliance and
economic sustenance.

The Main Feature of technical Education in Nigeria

This education incorporates Tertiary Technology education offered in the universities, Polytechnics,
Mono-technics and Technical colleges of education and other specialized institutions.
i. These institutions are to provide courses of instruction and training in engineering
technology, applied science, business and management leading to the production of
trained man power.
ii. They are to provide technical knowledge and skills necessary for agriculture, commercial
and economic development leading to the industrial and commercialization of the Nigeria
economy.
iii. They are to give training that impart necessary skills for the production of Technicians,
Technologist and other skilled personnel who shall be enterprising and self-reliant
iv. They are to train people who shall apply the scientific knowledge they have acquired to
solve economic and environmental problems for the convenience of man
v. They are to give exposure on professional studies in technology.
On the part of the Government to achieve these above goals:
i. They shall adopt measure to develop and encourage technological education through
student’s exposure to practical industrial work experience.
ii. Improve immediate and long term prospects of graduates of technology institutions and
other professionals with respect their status and remuneration.
iii. To encourage technology education institution to conduct applied researches relivant to
the needs and aspiration of the nation, such as Tetfunds, PTDF grants
iv. Efforts shall be made to inculcate an attitude of respect for and appreciation for the role
of technology in the society. In this regards students shall be made to appreciate the
dignity of labour by involving them in making, repairing, and assembling machines,
gadgets and equipment.
v. The Polytechnic shall therefore continue to run a two-tier progamme of studies, The
National Diploma and the Higher National diploma after a year of industrial
training/experience that is a pre-requisite for admission into the higher national diploma.
vi. Technology Education institution shall select their students except where the law
prescribes otherwise.
vii. Technology Education institution shall pay particular attention to the research into and
promote indigenous technology in Nigeria.
viii. Not less than 70% of the admission into polytechnics shall be in technology base course.

THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF TECHNICAL PERSONNEL

ENGINEERS
i. The engineer applies scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
ii. The engineer is the coordinator of others technical staff in the organization
iii. The engineer manages all the resources at his disposal to achieve technical solution to
problems
iv. They plan, instruct and ensure compliance to principle to bring to completion projects.
v. An engineer is a designer of machineries and plant using known principles.
vi. An engineer is mainly analytical in his approach to problem solving.
vii. He gives leadership, supervision and guidance to other members of the engineering
family
TECHNOLOGIST
i. They function as supervisors to other cadre of the engineering family.
ii. They possess some skills on the job as the artisans and some analytical skills as an
engineer to give guidance to the other members of the family.
iii. They sometimes act as managers in factories and industries.
iv. They are referred to as the Higher Technical Officers as a result of their role in the
industries and ministries.
v. They are highly technically oriented and could be multi-disciplined therefore their
approach to supervising all cadre of artisans and technicians.
TECHNICIANS
i. They are regarded as an intermediate level of the family as they are very skilled in their
area of training.
ii. They supervise the artisan directly and they are as skilled as the artisans though they can
be skilled in one or more area of engineering practice.
iii. They recognized the use of one or more tools to achieve their engineering work.
iv. They are competent in the use of these tools to bring about their works.
ARTISANS/CRAFTMEN
i. They are regarded as the most important in the ladder of the engineering family.
ii. They engage in direct production of good and services
iii. They are required to be highly skilled in the use of one or more tools for production.
iv. They may or may not have had any other formal class training after secondary school.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME OF ENGINEERING

AND THAT OF THE POLYTECHNIC.
1. As at today the entry requirement into the university and the Polytechnic is the same at least
5 relevant credit in the area of choice with mathematics and English being compulsory
2. Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board Examination is required be taken by the
prospective candidates into the two types of institutions.
3. The university runs a direct five years course in engineering while the polytechnic runs first
two years to award a national diploma and another two years of theory for higher national
diploma.
4. The university as at today runs a 3months and 6months industrial training experience for its
student while the polytechnic runs a 3months and a 1year industrial training for the first two
years.
5. The university curriculum is mainly for theories and Laboratory experience while that of the
polytechnic is practical and workshop based.
6. The university learns the science and the principle of the course of choice the polytechnic
learns the principle and the practice of the course of choice.
7. The university trains the engineer to be a manager of men, materials and science to bring
about solution while the polytechnic trains the technologist to manage men, materials and
apply techniques also to bring about solution.
8. The different levels of trainings are to bring about synergy in the various cadre to produce
goods and services for the benefit of mankind.

THE ROLE OF NATION BOARD FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The national board for technical education is an agency of government for setting standards of
training, evaluation and monitoring of technical and technological education in Nigeria.
The Role Of National Board For Technical Education

1) Policy formulation-based criteria and development of curricula/course specification.

2) Advisory visitation for intending schools.
3) Supervision of the all technological schools.
4) Liaison and mediation role with the government
5) Enforcement and punishment to defaulters
6) Quality assurance by ensuring that what is obtained outside is seen inside.
CHAPTER 7

NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS (NSE)

The Nigerian Society of Engineers is the umbrella organization for the Engineering Profession in
Nigeria. The Society looks after the professional needs of members through well-structured
programmes and regular interactions among the different cadre of membership, enhancing high
professional standard and ethical practices.

Founded on 16th February, 1958 by a group of young Nigerian graduate engineers and students in
the UK, the Society was inaugurated at the Nigerian House in London. The NSE is registered with
the Corporate Affairs Commission as a company Limited by guarantee.

VISION:

The Nigerian Society of Engineers shall be one of the very best Engineering Professional bodies in
the World

MISSION:

The Nigerian Society of Engineers is dedicated to providing quality service aimed at enhancing
professional competence and development of its members at all times.

The Nigerian Society of engineers is committed to focus collaboration with, influencing and
providing quality advice to the various arms of Government, Industry, Commerce, academia and the
Society at large, for the purpose of uplifting the country as a whole.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers shall make meaningful contributions to the advancement of
technology worldwide.

HISTORY OF NSE

The Organisation was founded in 1958.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is the National umbrella organisation for the engineering
profession in the Country. It was incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee and not having a
share capital in 1967. The original Memorandum and Articles of Association were amended on 1st
December 1998. Like some of its counterparts in other professions, the Society has distinguished
itself through progressive and imaginative programmes to become the avenue for the professional
development of its members as well as technological development of the country.

OBJECTIVE OF NSE
The objective of the Society is to promote the advancement of engineering education, rsearch, and
practice in all its ramifications. Naturally, this is with a view to maintaining and enhancing the
professional capabilities of its members so as to better equip them to fulfill the needs of the
profession for the good of the public and the nation of large.
The objects for which the Society is established are:
To provide a central organisation for engineers in Nigeria and to generally to such things as may for
time to time be necessary to maintain a strict standard or professional ethics among its members and
to advance the interest of the engineering profession in Nigeria. To promote, protect, encourage and
maintain a high standard of engineering study and practice and to encourage greater efficiency
therein. To present to the Government of Nigeria the views of the Society on any subject of concern
or interest to engineers in Nigeria and if considered advisable to join with any other bodies in
submitting such representation.
To represent to any other individual or bodies or organisation the views of the society on any subject
of concern or interest to engineers in Nigeria or any appropriate subject on which the views of the
Society may be invited.
To provide a body to which the Government or other official or unofficial authority or organisation
in Nigeria can have recourse for advice, assistance or the expression of views on any subjects of
concern or interest to engineers in Nigeria.
To facilitate the development and acquisition of technology by conducting visits to places of
engineering interest, reading technical papers, holding meetings, conferences, publishing books
journals and periodicals on engineering matters.
To subscribe or guarantee or otherwise use monies of the Society for charitable or benevolent
objects or scholarships on bursaries or for any exhibitions for any public general or useful objects.
To provide for the training and examination of students in engineering as well as the continuing
professional update and development of its members.
To nominate any member of members as arbitrators, panelists, investigators, auditors expert
witnesses or specialist advisers, when called upon to do so.
To assist necessitous members and any of the dependent kindred of deceased members including the
widows and widowers of members and to appoint treasurer and distributor of any benevolent fund or
funds which may be contributed by members or others for these purposes or any of the them and
subject to the provisions of paragraph four (prohibiting payments being made to members), to make
any contributions out of the surplus assets or income of the Society from time to time to any
benevolent fund or funds.
To purchase, hold, lease, let, mortgage, sell, improve, or otherwise acquire and dispose of any
movable or immovable property and any rights or privileges, which may be necessary or convenient
for the advancement of any of the objects of the Society.
To invest and deal with the monies of the Society not immediately required in any manner.
To borrow money where necessary to promote any of the objects set out herein upon such securities
as may be determined.
To apply or petition for any legislation, parliamentary or otherwise that would further any of the
objects of the Societies.
To do all or any such Lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the object and
generally to further the profession of engineering in Nigeria as well as enhance the status of
engineers in Nigeria. Provided that the Society shall not support with its funds and objects nor
endeavour to impose on or procure to be observed by its members or others any regulation,
restriction or condition which if an object of the Society would make it a trade union.
To maintain and enhance links with national, international and multinational organizations and
bodies to promote any of the objects of the Society.
To collaborate with Industry, Commence, Academia, and other such national bodies as may be
necessary or convenient for the advancement of any of the objects of the Society.
To promote and enforce a high standard of performance and professional ethics among its members.
To promote and enforce a high standard of performance and professional ethics among its members.
To watch over, promote, and protect the mutual interests of its members and to give advice to
members.

LIAISON WITH GOVERNMENT

The Society liaises with Government on the NSE matters affecting the engineering progression on the

Boards of some government bodies and organisations.

LIAISON WITH THE COUNCIL FOR THE REGULATION OF ENGINEERING IN NIGERIA,

(COREN)

The Society is represented on COREN and arranges registration interviews for COREN. It maintains close

relations with the body on all issues relating to the Engineering Profession. These include Engineering
Regulation Monitoring (ERM), Mandatory Continuing Professional Development, (MCPD), and

remuneration for Engineers.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES;

A Member of the Society is expected to be current and committed in the payment of his dues and

levies as may be imposed by Council. All subscriptions are due on the 1st day of July each year.

A Member whose subscription is in arrears for one year shall lose his membership of or affiliation to

the Society.

Every member or affiliate is bound to further, to the best of his ability, the objects, interests and

influence of the Society.

CORPORATE MEMBERS

A Corporate member is eligible to all privileges of a member as prescribed by Council, is eligible to

vote at the AGM and can aspire to any positions in the Society in line with the conditions as

prescribed by Council.

A Member can be moved to Fellowship Cadre upon application and fulfilling the conditions for the

category.

FELLOW

A Fellow of the Society is a distinguished category of member with all privileges of a member and

other ones conferred by the Fellowship category as prescribed by Council. A Fellow is eligible to

vote at the AGM and can aspire to any positions in the Society in line with the conditions as

prescribed by Council.

A Fellow of the Society is recognised for valuable and selfless service to the Society and widely

acknowledged authority in his field.

AFFILIATES

CODE OF ENGINEERING CONDUCT

Every member is expected in his general conduct to uphold and enhance the honour and dignity of

the Engineering profession and the reputation of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and to act always

in the public interest:

 A member shall make available his professional knowledge and experience in accordance

with his code as a consultant or adviser, or a salaried employee, or a teacher of Engineering

Science, or in design, or manufacture, or construction as a faithful agent and trustee of his

client, employer, or other people connected with the works.

 A member shall not practice in a dual capacity as a consultant and as a contractor for

the same project except with the prior written consent of the client.

 A member shall not place orders on his own behalf in respect of a project on which he is

engaged but shall only do so explicitly on behalf of his client.

 A member shall not be the medium of payments made on his client’s behalf unless

specifically so requested in writing by his client, but shall only issue certificate for payments.

 A member shall not take part in competition involving the submission of proposals and

designs for engineering work unless an assessor which shall be an Engineer of acknowledged

standing has been appointed to whom all such proposals and designs are to be submitted for

adjudication.

 A member shall not invite or submit priced proposals under conditions that constitute price

competition for professional services.

 A member shall not advertise engineering services in self-laudatory language or in any

other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession.

 A member, on engineering works in a foreign country the members may adapt his

conduct according to the professional standards and customs of the country, but shall adhere

as closely as practicable to the principles of this code.

NSE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

 any person who desires to be admitted into the Society shall make a formal application to the

Society on the prescribed NSE form and shall state under what grade he seeks admission.

 Each application must be supported by recommendation of two financial CORPORATE

MEMBERS in good standing.

 The Council may require any person seeking admission to pass such examination as the

Council may prescribe or specify.

 The Council if satisfied that the candidate is not disqualified for any reason, shall consider

the application and shall decide whether the membership is granted.

FELLOW

Eligibility

Person must have undergone a regular course of study in Engineering Science of a duration not less

than three years in a University or Technical Institution whose curriculum is approved by the

Council, and completed such a course successfully, or satisfied the requirements of other

Engineering Societies approved by the Council in respect of Engineering Education.

Person muse have satisfied the requirements of Corporate Membership of any of the Engineering

Institutions approved by the Council.

Person is as at the time of admission engaged in the profession of engineering.

Person shall be required to satisfy the Council in a professional interview.

Admission Criteria

(a) Election by Invitation:

Person must have had not less than twenty (20) years’ experience in the practice of engineering

science.

(b) Election by Direct Application:

Person must have been a corporate member for a minimum of ten years (10 years).

In addition, meet one or all of the following conditions:

Submit a dissertation containing valuable statistics on engineering practice in this country;

 Submit a dissertation or thesis on original solution to a particular engineering problem in

Nigeria;

 Submit a dissertation adjudged by Council to be a worthwhile contribution to engineering

knowledge in the Country.

 There is also a monetary contribution to the society

MEMBER

Eligibility

Person must have had at least four years practical experience subject to the approval of the Council

OR he shall have satisfied the requirements of Corporate Membership of any of the Engineering

Institutions approved by the Council.

A remission not exceeding two years for successfully completed post-graduate studies may be

granted to a candidate in respect of the requirements of practical experience.

Person is as at the time of admission engaged in the profession of engineering.

Admission Criteria

Person is required to satisfy the Council in a professional interview and written examination.

Payment for forms and processing fees.

GRADUATE
Eligibility

Person must have undergone a regular course of study in Engineering Science of a duration not less

than three years in a University or Technical Institution whose curriculum is approved by the

Council, and completed such a course successfully, or satisfied the requirements of other

Engineering Societies approved by the Council in respect of Engineering Education.

Person is as at the time of admission engaged in the profession of engineering.

Admission Criteria

Application only.

ASSOCIATE
Eligibility
Person must possess an academic qualification at the level of a University degree in the Sciences
allied to engineering science, or other qualifications approved by the Council of the Society.
Person must have been engaged on work related to the practice of engineering for a minimum period
of five years.
Admission Criteria
Person is required to satisfy the Council in a professional interview and written examination.
STUDENT
Person must be undergoing a regular course of study in Engineering Science of duration not less than
three years in a University or Technical Institution whose curriculum is approved by the Council in
respect of Engineering Education.
Admission Criteria for student.
Application only.

NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF TECHNOLOGIST IN ENGINEERING

Formation History of NATE Engr. J. Toby-lade (the Technologist 1998 Feb. and Aug. edition)
Though the engineering education trailed behind every other branch of learning, the first ever
technical college the Yaba Higher College which had being in existence since 1930, was later broken
up to form the nucleus of University College of Ibadan due to a ten-year technical education plan by
the British administration. When in 1944 the breaking up led to Yaba Technical Institute (YTI) to
give a practical expression to the ten-year technical education plan, being novel the government had
to bring the programs being ran by the Public Work Department (PWD) together to form the
institute. The programs were Lands and survey Training canter which started in 1908, Marine of
1928, PWD of 1931, Post and Telegraph of 1931 and the Railways that started in 1942. With all
these in place there was no faculty of engineering even in the University College of Ibadan the
reason may have being that there were no industries that would have absolve them in the early 50s
and it also would also negate the British educational tradition of giving sound practical training
before moving on to their areas of interest. This was evident in Britain after the second world war
were they had to engage in full time and part time training of engineers leading to the award of
ONC/OND certificate. This was what the colonial masters in Nigeria envisaged for us with the
beginning of YTI. Certainly this institute would have been ripe enough to produce the first batch of
degree engineers in the Ten years if a little attention was given to it. But the institute was allowed to
suffer set back because the Colonial masters saw Africa as a foremost raw material center. Also at
independence there was a floodgate of opening university in the geopolitical structure of North,
south and East and all of the university started with engineering, producing graduates making
engineering equal to law and Theology forgetting that in engineering the hood does not make the
Monk. These institutions produce graduates which were not more that science boys because in the
words of Professor Terry, nobody ever learnt engineering from a book any more than a person
acquires the art of swimming or bicycling theoretically from an armchair. The other problem was
that we have built our economy as one who starts the building from its roof, with apex class
engineers and no middle class of locally trained engineers.
The government started looking for way out of the problem and its solution lies in the restructuring
of our system of engineering education. The authority thought of restructuring the old Yaba
Technical institute which in 1963 had metamorphosed into Yaba College of Technology with its
record that shows it was to produce middle level manpower for the country and the was accepted by
the government, yet they forgot that at the close of the ten-year technical education plan, the institute
was to produce a very high level of technological manpower. Secondly, after considering the
nation’s poor technological performance, the source was traced to the college because the curriculum
was more of theories than practical from papers presented, these were cut to size and practical skills
were emphasized. In all these the students of the institute were tag middle level and here was the
beginning of the struggle to remove the stigma of perpetual middle level in all its facet of training.
Even the change of name in 1963 came as a result of struggle by the students and the running of
programs for the Higher Technical Diploma (HTD) of the City and Guilds of London. In 1969 the
students again fought for the abrogation of HTD and the autonomy of the institute. The decree no 23
of 1969 states: “to provide courses of instruction, training and research in applied science and
technology, commerce, management and such other field of learning as the council may from time to
time determine”.
A comparism of this decree and that of decree 3 of 1967 that established the University of Lagos is
revealing such as
1(3) the objective of the university shall be:-
1(3) “To provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the pursuit of learning in all its
branches, and to make those facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are equipped to
benefit from them”.
1(3) (c) “To encourage, promote and conduct researches in all field of learning and human
endeavor”.
The decree 23 0f 1969 was nothing but a fulfillment of the philosophy that gave birth to the
Polytechnic education all over the world and its indicative of the level of technological educational
development of post independent Nigeria.
In the 70’s the Yaba College of education had stated to produce HND graduates which were
accepted into every works of life as engineers with most of the returnee HND/HNC graduate from
Britain and Yaba college of Technology setting up consultancy offices and most employed as
engineers with some who were very quick registered as engineers with COREN.
Soon after the establishment of Council of Registered Engineers if Nigeria (COREN) which was
believed to be assisted by the members of Nigerian Society of Engineers. This believe was soon
confirmed by decree of 1970 of COREN followed by newspaper publication and letters to the
ministries and companies limiting only university graduates with BSc qualification to be employed
as engineers.
This action was seen as discriminatory against Polytechnic and Colleges Graduates, the yearnings
amongst HND holders who did not like the lopsided administration of COREN to act in consonant
with its goal of developing, maintaining and defending the common interest of the practice of
engineering in Nigeria led to the first meeting of HND holders in Lagos in1976.
This led to the birth of Nigerian Technological Engineers (NTE) in 1976, the memberships were
mainly limited to Lagos and about 240 engineers were members of the association as at 1978 within
Nigeria. But due to lack of finance and government backing the association suffered a setback
between 1978-79. It was revived by the second President Engr. Toby-lade (1983-1991), the change
of name was effected in the general meeting of the association in 1980 from NTE to Nigerian
Association of Technologist in Engineering (NATE), and they also held its first annual dinner in
1980 at the Federal palace Hotel. The first president of the association was Alhaji Moshood Sule
1976-1983.
The registration of the association was first attempted in 1976 and was aborted, again in 1980 papers
were filled to the ministry of Commerce company registration division, it was published in three
newspapers and it met objection from NSE and COREN. It took the effort of Engr. Toby-lade for the
association to be registered in 1988 after COREN lifted the ban in 1982 by writing an official letter
to the Registrar of Companies.
OBJECTIVE OF NATE
Some of the objectives for which the association is established are:
a. To promote and develop, for the benefits of the Nigerian community and elsewhere, the
general advancement of science, technology and practice relative to all aspect of engineering,
including in such expression the design, construction, selection, installation, maintenance,
and control of mobile, or static plant and equipment used in engineering or related industries.
To this end, the association may setup branches or offices in any part of the Nigerian
Federation in furtherance of all the association’s objects contained in its memorandum of
association.
b. To encourage and promote inventions and improvements in the field of engineering and
technology and to disseminate knowledge thereof by supporting, financing, assisting and
promoting research, investigation and experimental works.
c. In the interest of science and technology, and of community in general, to improve, elevate
and maintain the technical and general knowledge of persons engaged about to be engage in
engineering practice and the integrity and reputation of the profession thereof in manners
following, that is to say:
i. By the holding of workshop, seminars and lectures and award of scholarships,
grants and rewards
ii. By conducting examinations and/or interviews as a qualification for admission
of any class of membership of the association.
iii. By requiring standards of professional conduct and fair dealing and preventing
malpractice of, and among such persons.
d. To corporate with the government Department, Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology other
educational institutions and authorities for the furtherance of knowledge of the education in
the science and practice of engineering and technology.
e. To promote the education of engineering practitioners, to consider, discuss and promote the
study of all question affecting engineering and technology and all ancillary and allied
professions or trade.
f. To promote collaboration between engineers, technologist, manufacturers of engineering
equipment, suppliers, owners and users of such equipment.
g. To disseminate amongst Engineers, Technologist and other Engineering practitioners who
are graduates of Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology or their equivalent, information on all
matters affecting engineering and to print, publish, issue, and circulate such papers
periodicals, journals, books, circulars, and other literary undertakings as are conducive to any
of these objectives.
h. To acquire or otherwise establish, form and maintain a technical library in every of its offices
and collections of catalogues, design and works, information and communication Technology
(ICT) facilities useful to engineers, technologists and other engineering practitioners.
i. To encourage the discovery of and investigate and make known the nature and merits of
inventions which may seems capable of being used by engineers and technologist and to
acquire any patents or license relating to such inventions with a view to the use thereof by
engineering practitioners either gratuitously or upon such terms as may seems expedient to
mention a few.
MEMBERSHIP
a. These are those who subscribe to the memorandum of association and such other persons as
shall be admitted to membership in accordance with these articles and none others, shall be
members of the association and shall be entered into a register of members accordingly.
b. The association for the purpose of registration is declared to consist of unlimited number of
members.
c. Membership herein referred to all grades of members.
Classes of Membership
Corporate Members
Corporates members shall be fully qualified engineering practitioner whose kind of works shall be
that reserved for at least a Technologist anywhere in the world in all field of engineering, Engineers
and Technologist as defined by the council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria who so desire
to tbe members provided the possess HND, [Link], or its equivalent.
a. Fellows: the council of management of the association may elect or transfer any
candidate into this class of membership provided that such candidate satisfies the council
on the following matters as at time of making his application.
i) That he is not less than 40 years of age
ii) That he has continuously been a corporate member of the association for a period
of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of his application
iii) That at the time of his application he is holding and has been so holding or has
held for a period of not less than five years preceding the time of his application
or election a senior engineering position in government , in industry or at any
advanced institution of learning.
iv) That the national council of the association may, if deemed necessary, request the
applicant to submit a paper on a subject to be selected by the applicant from a list
of subjects approved for this purpose by the council
v) That he is not financially indebted in any way to the national, branch or chapter as
at the time of making his application
vi) That, apart from the above, the applicant if in the opinion of the council is fit and
proper person to be a Fellow of the association
b) Members: to be eligible or transfer to this class of membership a candidate must fulfill the
following condition;
i) Must possess one or more of the following academic qualification, that is to say:
H.N.D. engineering, H.N.C Engineering, B. Tech Engineering or any other
qualification, which in the opinion of the council is equivalent to any of the
qualification stated above
ii) Must have had three-year experience in practical engineering work, two years out of
which must have been spent in appropriate training supervised by qualification and
experienced engineers or technologist
iii) Must be ready to, if the council so requires, to submit written papers and attend
interviews or test to enable the council further determine the suitability of the
candidate for this class of membership
c) Graduates: Graduates membership shall be opened to graduates of collages of technology and
polytechnics at the degree level in Engineering technology or higher national diploma level
or equivalent who are with at least 3 years’ cognate industrial experience, provided the
institution attended is approved by the Council, in addition:
i. He must not be under18years as at the time of application
ii. He must produce evidence of discharge or exemption from National Youth service
Corp Scheme.
d) STUDENT:
Student membership shall be opened to student in approved University or Colleges of
Technology, and the Polytechnics who are admitted to pursue degree in engineering
Technology or Higher National Diploma courses in relevant fields of engineering. Such
students shall, while applying for membership, be required to produce evidence of attendance
at such institution at the time of application.
e) ASSOCIATES:
Associates shall be
1. Persons elected as such by the Council, who are not qualified in the opinion of the Council
for Corporate membership of the association, but who work in the field of engineering and
who wish to be associated with the association and its activities and fulfill the following
additional condition:
i.) Be not less than 18 years of age at the time of application for admission and;
ii.) Have had at least 5years continuous employment in a responsible position in government
or industries which in the opinion of the council is related to engineering.
iii.) Satisfy the council that by their qualification and previous experience in the position they
occupy at the time of election, their admittance as associates of the association will
promote the declared objects of the association and its further development.
2. Graduates of Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology and similar institutions at the Ordinary
National Diploma level or equivalent as may be determine by the council. In addition:
i.) Candidates must not be less than 18years of age at the time of application.
ii.) Must show evidence of continuous employment for at least 2 years after the qualification.
Other categories of membership are as follows
Affiliates,
Grand Patrons
Patrons
Honorary Fellows and Members
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
a. Every application for election, re-election or transfer to any category of membership shall be
filling and signing the official application form a may be prescribed by the council.
b. Every completed application form shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee as may be
prescribed by the council and also the evidence of qualification for the category of
membership being applied for.
c. The council shall at its own discretion determine the eligibility of each applicant for the
categories of membership being applied for and the decision of the council in this regard
shall be final. To reach its decision, the council may or may not invite the applicant for a
personal interview.
d. It shall be absolute right of the council to refuse to give any reason for rejecting an
application.
e. Every applicant shall be informed in writing of the council’s decision on his application.
RIGHTS AND PREVILAGES OF MEMBERS
Members shall enjoy such rights and privileges as the council may from time to time prescribe.
The right and privileges of every member of any grade shall be personal to him and shall not be
transferable by his own or by operation of law.
a. Every member whether corporate or non-corporate may use the title of the class to which
he/she belongs as shown below:
Fellow - FNATE
Member - MNATE
Graduates - NATE(Grad)
Student - NATE(Stud)
Associates - NATE(Assos)
Affiliate - NATE(Affil)
Honorary Fellow- FNATE(Hon)
Honorary Member- MNATE(Hon)
b. Every member shall have the right to use any facility that may be provided on the association
premises such as library, laboratory, recreational, subject to the conditions that may be
prescribed by the council.
c. Every candidate who is elected, re-elected or transferred to the category of membership of
his/her choice or for which he /she is qualified in the opinion of council shall be entitled to a
membership certificate given under the seal of the association.
d. Ever candidate who has passed the interview of the association shall be entitled to receive a
letter of admittance as the council determine.
e. The council shall have the power to deregister or transfer to another grade any person who
has erroneously registered in any grade of membership.
f. Every candidate who has passed the examination of the association qualifying him/her to be
admitted a full member after paying the prescribed fees shall be entitled to receive a letter of
admission as the council may determine.
g. All the document referred to in (b), (c) and (d) above shall be the property of the association
and can be withdrawn or declared invalid if the holder ceases for any reason to be a member
of the association or is found guilty of an offence which in the opinion of the council is
unworthy of a member of the association.
h. Every member shall be entitled to attend general meeting of the association.
i. Every corporate member shall be entitle to vote and be voted for in election into offices of
the association; provided he/she is not in arrears of dues beyond the limit prescribe in the
article.

COUNCIL FOR THE REGULATION OF ENGINEERING IN NIGERIA (COREN)

What is COREN
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, was established by decree 55 of

1970 and amended by Decree 27 of 1992, now the “Engineers (Registration, etc) Act, CAP E11 of

2004” Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Act establishes COREN as a statutory body of

the Federal Government empowered to regulate the Practice of Engineering in all aspects and

ramifications in Nigeria. This act is being amended as at present starting from last year 2019.

MANDATE OF COREN

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, is a body set-up by the Decrees

55/70 and 27/92 (now Acts 110). The Decrees empowered the Council to regulate and control the

training and practice of engineering in Nigeria and to ensure and enforce the registration of all

engineering personnel (i.e. Engineers, Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians, and

Engineering Craftsmen) and consulting firms wishing to practice or engage in the practice of

engineering.

COREN DECREE

COREN is empowered by decrees, no 55, 1970 and no 27, 1992 (amendment) to accredit training

institutions and regulate the practice of engineers, Technologists, Technicians and Craftsmen in

Nigeria.

By these decrees, it is illegal for the following to practice or be employed, except for the purpose of

training and apprenticeship, without being registered by COREN:

1. Engineers

2. Engineering Technologists

[Link] Technicians
[Link] Craftsmen and

5. Engineering Consulting firms

6. Engineering Contracting firms

Anybody corporate or individual employer who engages the services of unregistered engineering

personnel or consulting firms commits an offence against the law of the land as stipulated in clause

13(6), page 14 of the COREN decrees.

Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM) inspectors have been appointed all over Nigeria to fish

out offenders.

ENGINEERS (REGISTRATION, ETC), ACT

An Act to establish the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria and to make provisions for other

Establishment of the Council matters connected therewith. [1970 NO. 55] of [5th December, 1970]

[Commencement] for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, etc.

1. Establishment of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria

(1) There shall be established on the coming into force of this Act, a body to be known as the

Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (hereafter in this Act referred to as “the

Council”) which shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid and be charged with the general

duty of [1992 No. 27]

(a) determining who are engineers for the purposes of this Act;

(b) determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seeking to

become registered as engineers and raising those standards from time to time as circumstances may

permit;

(c) securing, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the establishment and maintenance of a

register of persons entitled to practice as registered engineers and the publication from time to time

of lists of those persons;

(d) regulating and controlling the practice of the engineering profession in all its aspects and

ramifications;
(e) performing the other functions conferred on the Council by this Act.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council shall consist of the following members from the

register of engineers, that is

(a) one person who shall be elected by the Council as the President;

(b) six persons elected to represent the Nigerian Society of Engineers in the manner provided by the

constitution of the Society;

(c) four persons appointed to represent the universities with faculties of engineering in rotation;

(d) one person appointed to represent the polytechnics in rotation;

(e) one person appointed to represent technical colleges in rotation;

(f) six persons appointed to represent the States of the Federation in rotation;

(g) four persons to be nominated by the Minister; and

(h) one person to represent each of the following cadres to be appointed from their respective

registers, that is [1992 No. 27]

(i) registered engineering technologists;

(ii) registered engineering technicians;

(iii) registered engineering craftsmen.

(3) the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the qualification

and tenure of office of members of the Council, powers and procedure of the Council and the other

matters there mentioned.

(4) Regulations may provide for increasing or reducing the membership of the Council, and may

make such consequential amendments of paragraph 1 of the First Schedule to this Act as the

Minister considers expedient in consequence of the increase or reduction.

[First Schedule]

2. Financial Provisions

(1) The Council shall prepare and submit to the Minister not later than the 31st day of December of

the year in which this subsection comes into force (so however that for that year the Minister may, if
he considers it necessary, extend the period) and of each subsequent year, an estimate of its

expenditure and income during the next succeeding financial year.

(2) The Council shall keep proper records in respect of each financial year and proper records in

relation to those accounts and shall cause its accounts to be audited as soon as may be after the end

of the financial year to which the accounts relate, by a firm of auditors approved as respects that year

by the Minister.

3. Control of Council by Minister

(1) The Minister may give to the Council directions of a general character or relating generally to

particular matters (but not to any individual person or case) with regard to the exercise by the

Council of its functions and its shall be the duty of the Council to comply with the directions.

(2) Before giving a direction under subsection (1) of this section, the Minister shall serve a copy of

the proposed direction on the Council and shall afford the Council an opportunity of making

representations to him with respect to the direction; and after considering any representations made

to him in pursuance of this subsection, the Minister may give the direction either without

modification, or with such modifications as appears to him to be appropriate, having regard to the

representations.

(3) In pursuance of the provisions of subsection (1) and (2) of this section, the Minister shall, subject

to the approval of the President, give necessary inducement to private industries providing adequate

training facilities to engineers, engineering technologists, technicians and craftsmen in training.

The Register

4. Preparation and maintenance of the register

(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to appoint a fit person to be Registrar for the purposes of this

Act.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Registrar to prepare and maintain, in accordance with rules made by the

Council under this section, a register of the names, addresses and approve d qualifications, and of

such other particulars may be specified, of all persons who are entitled in accordance with the
provisions of this Act, to be registered as registered engineers and who apply in the specified manner

to be so registered.

(3) The registers of engineering personnel (in this Act referred to as “the registers”) shall consist of

four registers, one each for

(a) registered engineers;

(b) registered engineering technologists;

(c) registered engineering technicians; and

(d) registered engineering craftsmen.

(4) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Council shall make rules with respect

to the form and keeping of the register and the making of entries therein, and in particular

(a) regulating the making of applications for registration and providing for the evidence to be

produced in support of applications;

(b) providing for the notification of the Registrar, by the person to whom any registered particulars

relate, of any change in those particulars;

(c) authorizing a registered person to have any qualification which is, in relation to the relevant

division of the profession, whether an approved qualification or an accepted qualification for the

purpose of section 6 (2) of this Act, registered in relation to his name in addition to or, as he may

elect, in substitution for, any other qualifications so registered;

(d) specifying the fees to be paid to the Council in respect of the entry of names on the register and

authorizing the Registrar to refuse to enter a name on the register until any fees specified for the

entry has been paid;

(e) specifying anything failing to be specified under the foregoing provisions of this section, but

rules made for the purpose of paragraph (d) of this subsection shall not come into force until they are

confirmed by order of the Minister.

(5) It shall be the duty of the Registrar

(a) to correct, in accordance with the Council’s directions, any entry in the register which the

Council directs him to correct as being in the Council’s opinion and entry which was incorrectly

made;

The Registrar

(b) to make from time to time any necessary alterations to the registered particulars of the registered

persons;

(c) to remove from the part of the register which relates to provisionally registered persons all

particulars relating to a person registered in the other part of that register or relating to persons

ceasing for any reason to be entitled to be so provisionally registered; and

(d) to remove from the register the name of any registered person who has died.

(6) If the Register-

(a) sends by post to any registered person a registered letter addressed to him at his address on the

register, enquiring whether the registered particulars relating to him are correct and receives no reply

to the letter within the period of six methods from the date of posting it; and

(b) upon the expiration of that period sends in like manner to the person in question a second similar

letter and receives no reply to that letter within three months from the date of posting it, the Registrar

may remove the particulars relating to the person in question from the relevant part of the register;

and the Council may direct the Registrar to restore to the appropriate part of the register any

particulars removed there from under this subsection.

5. Publication of Register and List of Corrections

(1) It shall be the duty of the Registrar –

(a) to cause the register to be printed, published, and put on sale to members of the public, not later

than two years from the beginning of the year in which this subsection comes into force; and

(b) in each year after that in which a register is first published under paragraph (a) of this subsection,

to cause to be printed, published and put on sale as aforesaid, either a corrected edition of the register

or a list of alterations made to the register since it was last printed; and
(c) to cause a print of each edition of the register and of each list of corrections to be deposited at the

principal offices of the Council, and it shall be the duty of the Council to keep the register and lists

so deposited open at all reasonable times for inspection by members of the public.

(2) A document purporting to be a print of an edition of a register published under this section by

authority of the Registrar in the current year, or documents purporting to be prints of an edition of a

register so published in a previous year and of a list of corrections to that edition so published in the

current year, shall (without prejudice to any other mode of proof) be admissible in any proceedings

as evidence that any person specified in the document, or the documents read together, as being fully

or provisionally registered is so registered, and that any person not so specified, is not so registered.

Registration

6. Registration as Engineers

(1) Subject to section 16 and to rules made under section 4 (4) of this Act, a person shall be entitled

to be fully registered under this Act if –

(a) he has attended a course of training approved by the Council under the next following section;

(b) the course was conducted at an institution so approved, or partly at one such institution and partly

at another or others;

(c) he holds a qualification so approved; and

(d) he holds a certificate of experience issued in pursuance of section 9 of this Act; and

(e) he has completed a minimum of two years’ approved post-graduate training and has passed or is

exempted from professional interview;

(f) in the case of a craftsman, he has completed a minimum of two years’ working experience in his

trade and submits an acceptable certificate of experience;

(g) he has completed his second year of industrial pupilage in an approved establishment.

(2) Subject as aforesaid, a person shall also be entitled to be fully registered under this Act if he

satisfies the Council –

(a) that he is of good character;

(b) that he holds a qualification granted outside Nigeria and for the time being accepted by the

Council for the purposes of this subsection as respects the engineering profession;

(c) that in the country in which the qualification was granted he was under no legal disability in the

practice of engineering; and

(d) if the Council so requires, that he has had sufficient practical engineering experience, and the

Council shall from time to time publish in the Federal Gazette particulars of the qualifications for the

time being accepted as aforesaid.

(3) Subject as aforesaid, a person shall be entitled to be provisionally registered under this Act in the

cases specified in section 12 of this Act.

7. Titles to be used by registered persons

(1) A registered engineer shall use the abbreviation “Engr” before his name.

(2) A registered engineering technologist shall use the abbreviation “Engn. Tech” after his name

(3) A registered engineering technician shall use the abbreviation “Tech” after his name.

(4) A registered engineering craftsmen shall use his full title with his trade in bracket under his

name.

8. Transfer from one register to the other

(1) An engineering craftsman may apply to transfer to the register of engineering technicians if he

obtains the Ordinary National Diploma Certificate or an approved equivalent educational

qualification and the required working experience.

(2) An engineering technician may apply to transfer to the register of engineering technologists if he

obtains the Higher National Diploma Certificate or he has successfully completed an equivalent

course of study in a polytechnic or college of technology or any other approved institution.

(3) An engineering technologist may apply to transfer to the register of engineers if he –

(a) passes the examination accredited by the Council, the academic content of which shall meet the

requirement for registration as an engineer; or

(b) attends a post-Higher National Diploma course approved by the Council and run by a

polytechnic or university and passes an examination accredited by the Council; or

(c) passes a university degree programme or any examination conducted by any other body

authorized by Council

9. Approval of courses, qualifications and institutions

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Council may approve for the purposes of section 6 of

this Act –

(a) any courses of training which is intended for persons who are seeking to become, or are already,

members of the engineering profession, and which the Council considers is designed to confer on

persons completing it sufficient knowledge and skill for the practice of that profession or for practice

as members of a specialized branch of that profession;

(b) any institution either in Nigeria, or elsewhere, which the Council considers is properly organized

and equipped for conducting the whole or any part of a course of training, approved by the Council

under this section;

(c) any qualification which, as a result of examination taken in conjunction with the course of

training approved by the Council under this section, is granted to candidates reaching a standard at

the examination indicating, in the opinion of the Council, that they have sufficient knowledge and

skill to practice engineering as a profession.

(2) The Council shall from time to time publish in the Federal Gazette a list of qualifications in the

profession of engineering approve by it, and subject thereto the Council shall not approve for the

purpose of subsection (1) of this section, a qualification granted by an institution in Nigeria unless

the qualification has been so published by Council.

(3) The Council may, if it thinks fit, withdraw any approval given under this section in respect of any

course, qualification or institution; but before withdrawing such an approval the Council shall-
(a) give notice that it proposes to do so to persons in Nigeria appearing to the Council to be persons

by whom the course is conducted or the qualification is granted or the institution is controlled, as

case may be;

(b) afford each such person an opportunity of making to the Council representations with regard to

the proposal; and

(c) take into consideration any representations made as respects the proposal in pursuance of

paragraph (b) of this section.

(4) As respects any period during which the approval of the Council under this section for a course,

institution or qualification is withdrawn, the course, institution or qualification shall not be treated as

approved under this section; but the withdrawal of such an approval shall not prejudice the

registration or eligibility for registration of any person who by virtue of the approval was registered

or eligible for registration (either unconditionally or subject to his obtaining a certificate of

experience) immediately before the approval was withdrawn.

(5) The giving or withdrawal of an approval under this section shall have effect from such date,

either before or after the execution of the instrument signifying the giving or withdrawal of the

approval, as the Council may specify in that instrument, and the Council shall

(a) as soon as may be, publish a copy of every such instrument in the Federal Gazette; and

(b) not later than seven days before its publication as aforesaid, send a copy of the instrument to the

Minister.

(6) An educational institution for the training f persons in the engineering profession shall submit a

syllabus of its programme, content and minimum facilities to the Council for approval before a

course approved by the National Universities Commission or the National Board for Technical

Education, or any other engineering body, is commenced.

(7) An educational institution applying for approval shall provide necessary facilities to qualify for

interim approval before the first visitation is conducted by the Council.

(8) The National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education or any other
engineering body shall impose any necessary sanction on any institution failing to provide facilities

under subsection (7) of this section.

10. Power to compile list of establishments, etc. [1992 No. 27]

(1) The Council shall have power to compile the list of establishments which maintain adequate

facilities for the training of engineering personnel.

(2) In pursuance of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Council shall have the power

to inspect approved establishments to confirm, from time to time, the adequacy of facilities within

the approved establishments.

(3) The Council shall provide facilities for the monitoring of the post-qualification training including

the payment of honoraria and expenses to inspectors.

(4) The Council shall promote and update practitioners of the engineering profession through

continuing education.

11. Registration of Consultants

(1) The Council shall register annually all organizations performing engineering consultancy

services.

(2) No firm or partnership shall practice as engineers in Nigeria unless it is registered by the Council.

(3) The Council may, from time to time, make regulations controlling the practice of engineering in

the construction industry, including regulations as to the full-time or part-time use of persons

registered with the Council:

Provided that the Council shall not be involved in the registration of contractors.

12. Supervision of instructions and examinations leading to approved qualifications.

(1) it shall be the duty of the Council to keep itself informed of the nature of

(a) the instructions given at approved institutions to persons attending approved courses of training;

and
(b) the examinations as a result of which approved qualifications are granted, and for the purposes of

performing that duty the Council may appoint, either from among its own members or otherwise,

persons to visit approved institutions or to attend such examinations.

(2) it shall be the duty of a visitor appointed under subsection (1) of this section, to report to the

Council on

(a) the sufficiency of the instructions given to persons attending approved courses of training at

institutions visited by him;

(b) the sufficiency of the examinations attended by him; and

(c) any other matter relating to the institutions or examinations on which the Council may, either

generally or in a particular case, request him to report, but not visitor shall interfere with the giving

of any instruction or the holding of any examination.

(3) on receiving a report made in pursuance of this section, the Council shall as soon as may be send

a copy of the report to the person appearing to the Council to be in charge of the institution or

responsible for the examinations to which the report relates, requesting that person to make

observations on the report to the Council within such period as may be specified in the request, not

being less than one month, beginning with the date of the request.

13. Certificate of Experience

(1) A person who, after obtaining an approved qualification, satisfies, the conditions mentioned in

subsection (2) of this section, shall be entitled to received free of charge a certificate of experience in

the prescribed form from the person in charge of the institution mentioned in that subsection.

(2) The Conditions aforesaid are –

(a) he shall have served his time or for the prescribed period in Nigeria with a view to obtaining a

certificate of experience.

(b) he shall have acquired during his employment practical experience under the personal

supervision and guidance of one or more registered engineers for such periods as may be prescribed;

and
(c) the manner in which he carried out the duties of employment and his conduct during the period of

his employment shall have been satisfactory.

(3) It shall be the duty of the employer, being a registered engineer, supervising the work of persons

employed with a view to obtaining a certificate of experience, to secure that the last-mentioned

person is afforded proper opportunities of acquiring the practical experience required for the

purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section.

(4) Where, after having served his time as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this

section, a person is refused a certificate of experience, he shall be entitled –

(a) to receive from his employer particulars in writing of the grounds of the refusal; and

(b) to appeal from the refusal to a committee of the Council in accordance with rules made by the

Council in that behalf (including rules as to the time within which appeals are to be brought), and on

any such appeal the Committee shall either dismiss the appeal or itself issue the certificate of

experience in question or given such other directions in the matter at it considers just.

(5) Regulations may provide for the issue of certificates of experience in respect of employment and

institutions outside Nigeria.