An exodus of engineers from the nation may result from the International Engineering Alliance’s decision to allow members of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria to sign the Washington Accord, according to Professor Joy Ezeilo of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria.
Speaking at the inaugural Charles Mbanefo Memorial Lecture recently, which was hosted by the Abuja section of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ezeilo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made this point clear.
While the clearance would be a major benefit for COREN engineers, the professor warned that it would also encourage the exodus of thousands of qualified workers in Nigeria’s engineering industry to wealthy nations.
The Washington Accord is an international multilateral agreement between organisations in charge of accrediting engineering degree programmes for the creation and acknowledgment of best practises in engineering education, according to the International Engineering Alliance’s website.
The don responded to this in her speech, “Rising Emigration of Professionals and Impact on Nigeria’s Development: A Case Study of Engineers,” noting that Nigerian engineers may decide to relocate for a higher salary, better living conditions, a better working environment, or better research facilities.
Ezeilo stated, “As it relates to engineering professionals, it has recently been reported that Nigeria’s Council for the Regulation of Engineering has joined the Washington Accord as a professional signatory, making Nigeria the second African nation to do so.
“Although it is undeniable that many Nigerian engineers have already left the country in recent years, it seems logical to assume that these professionals might take advantage of Nigeria becoming a signatory to the agreement to immigrate to other member countries in search of greener pastures.
“The increased opportunities for potential migrants, such as opportunities for higher income, improved living conditions, and a better standard of living, are the most notable stimuli for migration by Nigerian engineering professionals,”
working environment, enhanced research facilities, and chances for career development.”
