The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, has called for urgent investment in Nigeria’s engineering ecosystem, saying the country’s sustainable development depends on its ability to transform engineering knowledge into locally built solutions.
Professor Bugaje made the call while delivering the keynote address at the ICESID 2026 International Conference on Engineering Innovation for Sustainable Development, organised by the Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The conference, held at the Yusuf Bala Usman Hall, ABU, was themed “Innovating Tomorrow: Harnessing Engineering to Drive Nigeria’s Growth for Sustainable Development.”
The NBTE Executive Secretary said sustainable development should not remain an abstract concept, but must be measured by practical outcomes such as durable roads, reliable electricity, access to clean water and locally fabricated machinery that reduces Nigeria’s dependence on imported products.
He stressed that achieving these goals requires not only engineers but also technicians, artisans and craftspeople who design, build, install, operate and maintain infrastructure and technological systems.
Professor Bugaje said Nigeria’s engineering development conversation should go beyond universities and polytechnics, arguing that the country’s informal technical and artisan sector represents a major but largely untapped component of its engineering capacity.
He challenged Nigerian stakeholders to consider how Panteka and similar artisan clusters could be transformed into export-oriented manufacturing hubs.
He also called for a stronger connection between engineering curricula, research and industry, warning that brilliant engineering innovations would have little national impact if they remained confined to laboratories, academic journals and conference proceedings.
The NBTE Executive Secretary further called for strict regulatory enforcement to address the recurring failure of public infrastructure, including building collapses, premature road deterioration and industrial hazards.
He also urged government and academic leaders to provide funding, appropriate accreditation pathways and supportive policies to ensure that innovations developed through research survive beyond conference halls.
Earlier In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Adamu Ahmed, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Bello Sabo, commended the Faculty of Engineering for organising a conference that brings together scholars, policymakers and industry practitioners to examine the practical value of engineering research.
Professor Ahmed said Nigeria’s ambitions for economic diversification, reliable power, functional infrastructure and industrial growth depended heavily on the quality of engineering thought and practice.
He urged the Faculty of Engineering to ensure that the research presented at the conference translated into practical solutions for power systems, roads, water resources and industrial development.
The Chairman of the occasion and Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Professor Sani Sambo, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Kaduna State University, Professor Bashir Ali, said the conference theme was timely because it addressed both immediate national challenges and future development needs.
He challenged participants to undertake purposeful research, develop expertise and contribute ideas capable of transforming Nigeria from an importer into a self-sufficient country and exporter of technical skills.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor J.M. Kaura, said the faculty recognised its responsibility to produce competent engineers and generate knowledge capable of addressing national and global development challenges.
Professor Kaura said the conference provides a platform for sharing research findings, exchanging professional knowledge, showcasing emerging technologies and building productive collaborations.
The conference organize by faculty of Engineering, brought together academics, policymakers, regulators, industry practitioners and students to explore how engineering innovation can support Nigeria’s sustainable economic and technological development
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