The Faculty of Engineering, Experts Advocate Practical Education, Energy Innovation for Economic Growth University Kano (BUK), has held its 5th Engineering Conference, bringing together policymakers, academics, engineers, and industry stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s industrial future.

The conference, themed “Engineering Innovations and Economic Policies: Driving Sustainable Industrial Growth in Nigeria,” focused on Nigeria’s transition from oil dependency to a diversified, innovation-driven economy.

Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, stressed that energy remains the most critical pillar of national development and must be prioritised by engineers, governments, and policymakers.

Professor Bugaje lamented the dilapidated state of infrastructure in the public sector, noting that poor energy planning continues to hinder industrial productivity. He urged state governments to explore mini-grid energy solutions as a practical pathway to expanding electricity access, particularly for industrial clusters and rural communities.

According to him, innovation must be environmentally conscious, adding that engineers should move beyond inventions to sustainable innovations that align with climate realities and long-term economic goals.

Earlier, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, delivered a lecture titled “Engineering Start-ups, Digital Economy and the Future of Industrial Growth.”

Pantami said questioning Nigeria’s education system should not be seen as an attack on the system or its products, but as a necessary step towards improvement. He observed that the current curriculum remains largely theoretical, static, and outdated, leaving little room for creativity, research, and problem-solving.

“Our education system often operates on the principle of ‘garbage in, garbage out,’ because students are not encouraged to contribute, innovate, or challenge existing knowledge,” he said.

Pantami noted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), datafication, blockchain technology, nanotechnology, augmented reality, and virtual reality are rapidly transforming global economies and industrial processes.

He emphasised that to remain competitive, Nigerian students must be equipped not only with technical expertise but also with critical soft skills, including social skills, creative thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.

“These skills are essential in a digital economy where innovation, adaptability, and collaboration define success,” Pantami added.

The former minister highlighted the growing role of engineering start-ups in solving emerging societal and industrial problems, noting that small, technology-driven companies now play a significant role in global economic growth.

He disclosed that over 150 million start-ups exist globally, many of which have grown into billion-dollar companies known as unicorns.

Pantami revealed that Africa currently has seven unicorns, five of which are from Nigeria, attributing this success to an enabling policy environment during his tenure as Director-General of NITDA and Minister.

However, he identified policy implementation, rather than policy formulation, as Nigeria’s major challenge, describing poor implementation as a key driver of corruption and institutional failure.

Pantami stressed that universities and technical institutions must work closely with government, industry, and other stakeholders through sustained engagement to ensure graduates emerge as job creators rather than job seekers.

He concluded by calling for the revival of local industries through innovation-driven engineering solutions, noting that strengthening domestic production would significantly reduce import dependence and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

In his remarks, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Prof. Okorie Austine Uchegusi, stressed the importance of appointing certified engineers to leadership positions in engineering-related agencies and parastatals.

He argued that aligning engineering responsibilities with professional expertise is vital to reversing persistent infrastructural failures and curbing unprofessional practices in project execution.

“Placing certified COREN engineers at the helm of engineering institutions is a critical step towards addressing dilapidated infrastructure, recurring project failures, and gaps in technical competence,” he said.

Professor Uchegusi expressed concern over the increasing number of young Nigerian engineering graduates leaving the country due to limited recognition and lack of meaningful projects at home.

“It is disheartening to see our young talents contributing to the development of other nations when their expertise is urgently needed here. If we continue to deny them opportunities, we are only pushing them further away,” he lamented.

He pledged to restore the dignity and integrity of the engineering profession, adding that recurring engineering disasters such as building collapses and frequent national grid failures could be drastically reduced if certified professionals were appointed to relevant positions.

He also called on policymakers to strengthen the manufacturing sector, noting that a vibrant industrial base would significantly reduce hardship and improve the overall wellbeing of society.