The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide has engaged engineering students of the University of Lagos on the imperatives of building right.
The Commissioner, who spoke recently at the Faculty of Engineering Auditorium, University of Lagos, stated that students of Engineering and other relevant disciplines were the hope of the built environment that is beset with many challenges, including building collapse.
He said that students must appreciate the challenges facing professional practice, especially in the physical planning sector, and devise workable solutions for the benefit of society.
He averred that engineering failures, often erroneously called accidents, were actually due to human factors, hence the need for engineering students to avoid them as professionals under tutelage.
“Engineering failure or building collapse is usually due to the acts of omission or commission of professionals who have duties to ensure that the right thing is done during the building construction process”, he said.
He urged the students to take ethical practices in their chosen profession seriously and to always refuse to compromise on standards and ethics, adding that they should always shun the idea of cutting corners as it could only lead to destruction.
The Commissioner acquainted the students with the mandate of his Ministry and agencies and enjoined them to support the government by monitoring and reporting any untoward physically developments in their areas.
The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Obanishola Sadiq, who appreciated the Commissioner’s endeavour, said that the session had not only added to the Students’ exposure but had also helped in projecting the role of the Ministry in the built environment and the need to maintain high professional standards by all concern.
