NSE identifies seven factors inhibiting growth of engineering sector

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has identified seven factors it said were inhibiting the growth of the engineering sector in the country.

This is as the NSE called on the federal government to focus on simplifying regulatory processes, providing incentives for innovation, and infrastructural upgrades, and ensuring consistency to foster an enabling environment for manufacturing growth.

According to the society, infrastructural limitations, limited access to funds, technology, innovation, skill gaps, policy inconsistencies, regulatory hurdles, and global market dynamics are the seven challenges inhibiting the growth of the sector.

The society stated this in a communique arrived at the following discussions and symposium held during the just concluded National Engineering Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

Read also: Ondo Commissioner confirms Tinubu told dep gov, Aiyedatiwa, to sign undated resignation letter

It also observed the challenges associated with accessing funding that includes high interest rates, stringent collateral, administrative bottlenecks, multiple taxes, instability in foreign exchange, as factors, among others that hinder growth and investment.

Reading the communique on Friday in Abuja, the President of the society, Tasiu Wudil, further highlighted the need to reduce the gross deficit in skilled labour to meet the demands of re-engineering the manufacturing sector, promoting competitiveness, and enhancing economic growth.

He also lamented that the existing policy framework affects the re-engineering of the manufacturing sector to enhance inclusive growth and competitiveness and called for a proper review.

Wudil said: “Nigerian manufacturing sector faces challenges including infrastructural limitations, limited access to funds, technology, innovation and skill gaps, policy inconsistencies, regulatory hurdles, and global market dynamics.

“The conference observed the significance of human capital development to achieve sustainable growth and development in any economy. It also noted the gross deficit in skilled labour to meet the demands of re-engineering the manufacturing sector, promoting competitiveness, and enhancing economic growth.”

While acknowledging recent efforts of the government to rehabilitate the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Complex, Wudil called for the involvement of the engineering body to accelerate the reactivation, rehabilitation, and modernisation to drive the much-needed industrialisation of the country.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now