By Don Peter Okoro.
In Furtherance Of their bid to curb the incessant cases of building and infrastructural collapse and untimely death of victims, the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers( NICE) Awka Chapter,in concert National Directorate of Employment (NDE) recently organized a Workshop in Nnewi Anambra State to create the necessary awareness for the menace. The venue was the Artisans Market near Nkwo Nnewi Roundabout.
Addressing the Press shortly after the Workshop, the Chairman of NICE Awka Chapter, Engr.High Chief Alex Ifeagwazi has this to say:””As Civil Engineers, we realized that most of these infrastructural and building collapse are as a result of poor workmanship.
The Artisans are the Builders while the Engineers are the Supervisors. If a Supervisor supervises very well, but the Builder fails to carry out very well, definitely there will be problems.”” Continuing, he said:”” We made them to understand that anywhere they find themselves working, they must insist that a COREN Registered Engineer is around to supervise what they are doing.
“After the Workshop, so many questions were asked in respect of what they normally experience in the field. One of the questions came from a Concrete Caster who wanted to know what should happen when a Client insists that the amount of sand should be more than necessary in order to increase the mixed concrete which would make the concrete lose strength.
And in the event that the Owner of the job threatens to sack the Concrete Mixer if he failed to comply? Engr. Ifeagwazi replied that he must insist and make sure that no one else takes over that job.
And that is why they should make sure that a COREN Registered Engineer is always there to supervise their work. It was a very insightful Workshop and at the end, presentations were made. They all Registered and were promised CERTIFICATES of ATTENDANCE. The turnout was very impressive as they were all visibly elated and happy.