The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on engineers across the country to deploy innovation, technology and smart engineering solutions to help the government tackle Nigeria’s insecurity and broader development challenges.
The appeal was made by the President of the NSE, Ali Rabiu, during a webinar organised to commemorate the World Engineering Day 2026.
Rabiu stressed that engineers must go beyond traditional construction and technical roles and begin applying modern engineering tools, systems thinking and digital technologies to address national security and economic stability.
According to him, the country’s security situation continues to affect economic growth, investment and development, making it necessary for engineers to contribute practical solutions through innovation.
He explained that “smart engineering” involves the application of advanced technologies and innovative design approaches to develop systems and infrastructure that are efficient, sustainable and interconnected.
“As we engage in discussions aligned with this theme, we must also explore how engineering can help government deliver practical solutions to the lingering insecurity challenges facing our country,” Rabiu said.
He noted that insecurity has far-reaching consequences on Nigeria’s economic performance, investor confidence and national development.
“Nigeria’s position in global investment rankings and ease-of-doing-business metrics is significantly influenced by safety conditions and regulatory predictability,” he said.
Rabiu warned that if the country fails to urgently address safety and security gaps, the consequences will continue to affect economic indicators and national growth.
“Without urgent intervention, safety deficits will continue to undermine GDP growth, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), job creation, infrastructure sustainability and public trust in governance,” he added.
The NSE president said engineers are critical stakeholders in nation-building and must play a central role in designing solutions that strengthen security systems, infrastructure resilience and economic stability.
“Engineers, as critical stakeholders in nation-building, have a vital role to play in addressing these challenges and strengthening the foundation for economic growth and stability,” Rabiu stated.
He also encouraged young engineers to actively participate in innovation and problem-solving initiatives that can help reposition Nigeria’s engineering sector globally.
“I am particularly pleased that our Young Engineers are well represented at this event. It is my desire that we continue to strengthen their capacity, as they are the hope of the future of our Society and country,” he said.
Rabiu added that the NSE will continue to support initiatives that build technical competence, strengthen professionalism and promote good governance within the engineering sector.
He also commended UNESCO and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) for sustaining the global platform that promotes engineering collaboration and innovation.
The keynote speaker at the event, Hilary Owamah, also emphasised the importance of smart engineering in addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
Speaking on the theme “Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future through Innovation and Digitalisation,” Owamah said the future of national development depends on how effectively engineering integrates technology, sustainability and data-driven systems.
“The fundamental question before us is: can we engineer growth without engineering collapse? The answer lies in smart engineering,” he said.
According to him, smart engineering combines engineering science, digital intelligence and sustainability principles to design systems that can predict, adapt and optimise performance.
“Smart engineering represents the intelligent integration of engineering science, digital intelligence, data-driven systems and sustainability principles. It is engineering that predicts, adapts and optimises,” he explained.
Owamah said Nigeria already possesses strong engineering capacity but requires better integration, scale and sustainability to maximise its potential.
He noted that smart engineering solutions can help address several national challenges, including environmental degradation, energy inefficiency and weak infrastructure monitoring systems.
According to him, the approach enables engineers to design flood-resilient infrastructure, optimise energy use, monitor water systems in real time and detect structural failures before disasters occur.
“We must move from ‘build and repair’ to ‘predict and prevent.’ The future engineer must be as comfortable with data as with concrete as well as developing local engineering solutions,” he said.
Owamah also urged universities and professional bodies to prioritise digital competence and innovation in engineering education so that future engineers can effectively support national development.
