The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ali Rabiu, has urged engineers to embrace financial literacy and business intelligence for improved professional relevance and economic stability.

Mr Rabiu made the call in a goodwill message at the 2026 Annual Business Luncheon of the NSE Ikeja Branch, held on Wednesday in Lagos.

He was represented by Margaret Oguntala, immediate past president of the society, during the event, which was attended by engineers, policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders.

The luncheon had the theme, ‘Reclaiming the Built Environment Value Chain: Strengthening Regulation and Investment in Nigeria’s Construction Ecosystem.’

Mr Rabiu said technical competence alone was no longer sufficient in today’s increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving professional environment.

According to him, engineers must develop entrepreneurial abilities, strategic thinking and sound financial management skills to remain competitive and economically relevant.

He commended the NSE Ikeja Branch leadership for sustaining the annual luncheon as a platform for professional networking and stakeholder engagement.

Mr Rabiu noted that the construction industry remained a major driver of national development and economic growth across Nigeria.

He said restoring value within the sector would require effective regulation, ethical conduct, sustainable investment and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

“Engineers must broaden their knowledge beyond technical practice and understand the economic realities shaping the construction industry,” he said.

Mr Rabiu encouraged young engineers to remain committed to continuous learning, innovation and self-development for the advancement of the profession and national growth.

In a keynote presentation,  Misbau Aminu urged engineers to reclaim greater control of their professional value chain to improve standards and earnings.

Mr Aminu, Vice President, Advocacy, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, advised engineers to diversify into manufacturing, trading and other profitable segments of the construction industry.

According to him, professionals should move beyond consultancy and design services to maximise opportunities across the broader construction ecosystem.

He advocated legislation establishing a professionally managed concrete industry to improve quality assurance and reduce incidents of building collapse.

Mr Aminu blamed frequent structural failures on poor concrete handling practices by unqualified artisans operating within the sector.

“Concrete production and handling should be regulated professionally because lives and investments depend on structural integrity,” he said.

He also urged engineers to become more active in policy advocacy and public administration, especially within technically driven sectors.

According to him, sectors such as infrastructure, housing and power require greater engineering input in policymaking and governance.

Mr Aminu said reclaiming the profession’s value chain would strengthen industry regulation, create employment opportunities and improve financial rewards for practitioners.

Also speaking, Ganiyu Oseni, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Broadband, Innovation and Technology, highlighted Lagos’ digital infrastructure investments.

Mr Oseni said broadband connectivity and data infrastructure had become as essential to modern cities as roads, electricity and housing.

He stated that the Lagos State Government was investing heavily in broadband networks, data centres and digital connectivity infrastructure.

According to him, the investments were aimed at building smarter cities, attracting investors and improving public service delivery across the state.

Mr Oseni stressed the importance of integrating digital infrastructure into roads, estates and major projects from the design stage.

“Digital infrastructure must now be considered a core component of urban planning and construction projects,” he said.

Panelists at the event called for stronger enforcement of the National Building Code to improve standards within Nigeria’s construction industry.

They also advocated certification of artisans and increased policy advocacy to address weak compliance and poor supervision in the sector.

The experts observed that Nigeria already possesses adequate regulations, but weak implementation has undermined their effectiveness and impact.

They recommended structured vocational training and tier-based certification systems for artisans involved in construction-related tasks across the country.

According to the panelists, only properly trained and certified workers should undertake specialised construction assignments to reduce avoidable structural failures.

The experts noted that reclaiming the built environment value chain requires deliberate collaboration among professionals, regulators, investors and government institutions.

They added that stronger collaboration would protect lives, improve project quality and enhance returns on engineering practice nationwide.

In his remarks, chairman of the planning committee, Babajide Ajanaku, thanked participants and guests for supporting the event.

Ajanaku expressed appreciation to the NSE president and other attendees for honouring the invitation and wished them safe journeys home. 

(NAN)