The role of academic institutions and Professional Bodies as strategies for National Integrated...

BYENGR. O. S. V. ODUWOLE, FNSE,

FCAIAGRICULTURAL AND BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, NEKEDE, OWERRI

osvoduwole@yahoo.ca

• Academic Institutions are major baseline for training professionals who in turn are brooded for higher productivity and professionalism by the professional bodies and the government regulatory bodies like COREN, NSE, NIM, NMC, etc. The actualization of any policy is embedded in the formulators of such policies and driven by relevant professional bodies which have their members in control. This paper takes a cursory look at the roles played by the tertiary academic institutions in accomplishing their goals of knowledge, skill and attitudinal development of their products, culminating in their professionalism; the roles of the professional bodies in inculcating discipline in their members; and consequently the use of the duo as a strategy for the achievement of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan 2014.

• Education is a means of developing human intelligence and skills needed to produce wealth and sustain a suitable and democratic society.

3 Areas of Education KnowledgeSkillAttitude

Started slowly but soundly, developing during the colonial time until the conclusion of World War II.

Christian missionaries introduced the western education system in Nigeria, in the mid-nineteenth century.

In 1990, three fundamentally distinct education systems identified in the Nigeria – the indigenous system, the Quranic schools, and formal European-style educational institutions

Yabatech in 1934 was the first Higher Institution

Followed by University College, Ibadan Literacy rate is 61% There are Academic Staff shortages in all

areas Over 60% of University lecturers are below

the rank of lecturer 1 and below; due to inter and intra-sector brain drain.

Nigeria was the17th largest source of international undergraduates and the19th largest source of international graduate students in the U.S. in 2009/2010

Nigeria hosts the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa state. AUN has a direct partnership with the American University (AU) in Washington DC

Nigeria is the largest source of students from sub Saharan Africa to the U.S.

There are 6,568 Nigerian students studying in over 733 regionally accredited U.S. colleges and universities in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. Texas is the most popular state for Nigerian students, followed by New York

The major source of funding for Nigerian students is personal and family funds. Some receive government funding and a few receive funding from the U.S. colleges or universities

There was a 6% increase in the number of Nigerian students studying at U.S. institutions at undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs in 2010

The most popular majors are Engineering, Business, Physical Sciences and Public Health

200 Education USA advisees received at least one form of financial assistance through financial aids, scholarships, and assistantships totaling almost $5.5 million from U.S. institutions in 2010-11

There are many professional institutions in Nigeria that regulate different professions ranging from accounting to engineering. Some of these institutions also administer certification examinations to members depending on their charter. Passing these exams is seen as symbol of professional accomplishments and lends credence to the competence of the individuals who have passed the examinations.

The National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) was meant to accelerate infrastructure development in the country. The NIIMP was formulated to span 30 years beginning from 2014 to 2043 with focus on key areas of infrastructure including energy, housing, agriculture, ICT, transport, and security with a target investment requirement of approximately $2.9 trillion over next 30 years. NIIMP clearly identifies required investment to bring infrastructure in Nigeria to desirable state. NIIMP’s key objective is to ensure coordinated approach to infrastructure development in Nigeria and help to integrate diverse infrastructure plans and projects across all sectors and regions in Nigeria.

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In order to bridge the current infrastructure gap and reach desired optimal investment, NIIMP states that Nigeria must increase core infrastructure stock from 35 – 40% of GDP in 2012 to 70% by 2043 (See Fig.1). The NIIMP document indicates that about $127 billion is required over the next 5 years translating to an average of $25 billion per annum from 2014 – 2018 (“the 1st Operational Plan Period”). Budgetary resources alone, currently standing at $9 – 10 billion for capital expenditure per year, will be inadequate to meet Nigeria’s infrastructure requirements. At the Federal and States level, financing of infrastructure will also require private sector participation.

Nigeria Vision 20: 2020

First National Implementati

on Plan

(22010- 2 2013)

(2

Second National

Implementation Plan

(22014- 2 2017)

Third National

Implementation Plan

(22018- 22020)

FG Transformation Agenda

(22011- 2 2015)

22010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2030 2040 2045

203

140

98

7046

25

7 9 10 9 9 9

Fig. 5: Required investments to close infrastructure gap

To close current infrastructure gap and reach desired optimal investment◦ Nigeria must aggressively increase core infrastructure

stock from 35 – 40% of GDP in 2012 to 70% by 2043 Consequent need to increase investment spending in

infrastructure◦ Target investment requirement is approximately

$2.9 trillion over next 30 years◦ Projected debt/GDP at 2043 – 25%

Private sector investment requirement is projected to increase from 46% to 48% during the 1st operational plan, 2014-2018

Public Sector investment projected at 52%◦ Only about 15% of public sector funding is

projected to be from the Treasury ◦ 85% to be sourced through:

Bond market Debt – internal, external etc.

Public and private sector need to borrow to finance infrastructure

Banking sector limitations Nature of infrastructure finance – long-term, high

initial capital requirements

From the above, it can be concluded that for NIIMP to be fully implemented, the tertiary education institution shall be further strengthened, while the professional bodies will have to play pivotal roles in the implementation process.

The professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers be engaged fully in the implementation of the NIIMP implementation strategies.

The Universities and Polytechnics in Nigeria be also included in the framework, especially in the areas of education improvement.

The Federal Government should engage appropriate professionals rather than card carrying party members in the implementation of NIIMP

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osvoduwole@yahoo.ca

08033395768

Engr. O. S. V. Oduwole, FNSE is a distinguished fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. A winner of Nelson Mandela Life Achievement Award, African Credibility Gold Award, National Administrative & Leadership Excellence Award, among many others was listed as one of the fifty most outstanding engineers in Nigeria in the year 2007. A polytechnic teacher for over two decades, OSV as fondly called was the first Director of Entrepreneurship as well as the first Head of Webteam of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri where he has taught and still teaching engineering & entrepreneurship for over two decades. Suffice it to say that Engr. Oduwole has consulted for many Federal Government ministries and parastatals like Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency among others directly and indirectly. He has written over a dozen of books and co – authored almost another dozen. He is the LMC of Wolex Vintage Technologies. And Executive Partner of LANS Consult, Lagos.