The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the federal government to implement the Buy-Nigeria first policy.
The president of NSE, Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, made the appeal in his inaugural address during his investiture ceremony, which took place at the banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
Rabiu took the oath of office as the 35th president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
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He applauded President Bola Tinubu for the "Buy-Nigeria First" policy, describing it as a transformative initiative capable of positioning Nigeria as a true giant of Africa.
Rabiu noted that the policy aligns with the COREN Act 2018 (as amended) and the Executive Order 5 of 2018, while expressing concern over poor compliance by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He disclosed that major infrastructure projects worth trillions of naira are being executed without adequate involvement of Nigerian Engineers, contrary to existing laws, and emphasised the requirement for MDAs to engage Nigerian engineering professionals from project conception through completion.
Re-affirming his commitment to the vision and mission of the Society, Rabiu assured members of pragmatic and deliberate steps aimed at repositioning the NSE for greater relevance in national development.
He stated that his administration would focus on resetting the NSE, strengthening its institutional foundations and restoring its role as a critical driver of engineering excellence and national progress.
According to him, the moment calls for reflection on the values that shaped the society, as well as a renewed commitment to unity, innovation and accountability.
"I approach today's investiture as the 35th President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with deep honour and a renewed sense of responsibility. Having served as President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), many believed my journey in engineering leadership had reached its natural conclusion.
"I, too, felt that way, until I was compelled by a wave of concerned and passionate Engineers who could no longer ignore the gradual drift of our great Society from its core ideals," he said.
Rabiu explained that the call for institutional renewal, bold reforms and strategic repositioning motivated his return to leadership, stressing that his decision was driven by conviction rather than ambition.
"This return is not driven by ambition, but by conviction. Today, I reaffirm that commitment with clarity, courage, and a deep sense of duty," he added.
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The new NSE president acknowledged the commendable reforms undertaken by previous administrations, noting that while they laid a necessary foundation, the present moment demands strategic clarity, bold thinking, and a stronger alignment with national priorities.
He revealed that his administration would be guided by the NSE Strategic Document, a 10-year blueprint recently approved by the Council, describing it as a directional framework that would shape policies, actions and engagements.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Senator Pius Anyim Pius while congratulating Rabiu urged him to strengthen Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) to address the recurring incidents of building collapse across the country.
He also called for stronger collaboration with relevant authorities to curb quackery in the engineering sector.
Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Patrick Ndubueze, pledged the Senate's support for the NSE, affirming its readiness to work closely with the Society to advance engineering development in Nigeria.
The minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, described Rabiu's presidency as a timely opportunity to elevate professional standards and strengthen policy influence.
He called on stakeholders across government, the private sector, academia and development partners to support the new administration in leveraging engineering expertise for effective governance, economic diversification, job creation and national competitiveness.
