Nigeria has taken a significant step in the field of engineering as it joins 21 other nations in a global engineering alliance under the prestigious Washington Accord (WA)¹. This alliance aims to promote local expertise in the international stage and enhance the mobility of professional engineers across participating countries.

The Washington Accord: An International Engineering Multilateral Agreement

The Washington Accord (WA), established in 1989, is a vital international multilateral agreement between entities responsible for accrediting or recognizing tertiary level engineering qualifications within their respective jurisdictions. Its primary objective is to collectively facilitate the mobility of professional engineers among participating countries¹.

Strengthening Globalization of Mutual Recognition

The signatories of the WA, including Nigeria, are committed to the development and recognition of good practices in engineering education¹. The focus is on academic programs that deal with engineering at the professional level. The accord recognizes that accreditation of engineering academic programs is essential for the practice of engineering at a professional level in each of the countries or territories covered by the alliance¹.

The Role of COREN in Achieving the Milestone

The Council of Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) played a crucial role in facilitating Nigeria’s membership in the WA¹. COREN expressed its interest in joining the alliance back in 2018 and officially submitted its application in 2019. After meeting the necessary requirements, Nigeria’s entry was approved, making it the second country in Africa, after South Africa, to be part of this esteemed alliance¹.

Benefits of Joining the Washington Accord

The inclusion of Nigeria in the Washington Accord brings forth a multitude of benefits for the country’s engineering community and the nation as a whole¹. Some of the key advantages include:

1. Improved Quality and Productivity: The quality and productivity of Nigerian engineers are expected to witness significant improvements, which will positively impact various sectors in the country¹.
2. Internationalization of Engineering Qualifications: With Nigeria’s participation in the alliance, engineering qualifications offered in the country will gain international recognition, further elevating the standard of engineering education¹.
3. Enhanced Knowledge Transfer: Nigerian engineers will now have more opportunities to practice their trade in other economies, leading to increased knowledge transfer between countries and the improvement of Nigeria’s technological capacity¹.
4. Exchange of Expertise and Currencies: The inclusion in the WA facilitates the exchange of engineering expertise between Nigeria and other participating economies, promoting economic growth through currency exchange and trade¹.

Pursuit of Similar Arrangements

COREN is also actively pursuing similar arrangements under the Sydney and Dublin Accords for Nigerian technologists and technicians¹. If successful, these additional accords would open up further opportunities for engineering professionals in Nigeria, enabling them to contribute to the global engineering community.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s inclusion in the Washington Accord marks a significant achievement for the country’s engineering sector and academic landscape. By becoming part of this esteemed global engineering alliance, Nigeria is poised to benefit from increased collaboration, knowledge exchange, and international recognition of its engineering qualifications. The future looks promising as Nigerian engineers are now better positioned to play an active role in shaping a more connected and innovative global engineering community.