Abia State Ministry of Works has kicked off a three-day capacity-building programme for its engineers and technical officers, with stakeholders stressing continuous training, professional excellence and adherence to modern engineering practices.
Declaring the programme open today in Umuahia, Abia state, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Don Otunchere Oti, FNSE, said the training was designed to strengthen the competence of personnel and improve the quality, efficiency and value of government infrastructure projects.
Oti noted that the dynamic nature of engineering required continuous learning and exposure to emerging technologies, construction methods and project management practices.
He said the training covered the duties of Resident Engineers, road design and maintenance, surveying, material testing and quality control, procurement, financial instructions and control, as well as Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
He maintained that the training is also expected to enhance the capacity of the Ministry’s engineers to effectively undertake and supervise direct-labour projects, in line with the administration of Governor Alex Otti’s drive to build a more competent and self-reliant public service.
The Commissioner urged participants to actively engage the resource persons and translate the knowledge acquired into improved professionalism and service delivery.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pst. Eno Jerry Eze, PhD, urged the participants to embrace what he described as the three stages of professional development—learning, unlearning and relearning.
Pst. Eno Jerry Eze PhD Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Abia state during the event in Umuahia recently.
Dr. Eze explained that while learning involves acquiring new knowledge and skills, unlearning requires abandoning outdated practices, while relearning entails adopting improved methods and contemporary approaches.
She said the training was particularly important because the Ministry of Works remained central to the state government’s infrastructure development agenda, adding that personnel must continually upgrade their capacity to meet the demands of modern engineering.
The Clergy expressed optimism that the programme would produce a more competent, motivated and engaged workforce capable of delivering effectively and competing favourably with professionals globally.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Mr. Uche Okoronkwo, said the workshop was aimed at equipping engineers and technical officers with practical competencies required for the supervision of government contracts and direct-labour road projects.
Okoronkwo recalled that the Ministry had previously organised training on quality control and civil engineering material testing for its engineers, stressing that continuous capacity development had become part of the Ministry’s culture under Commissioner Oti.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Denwoha Udobi commended Commissioner Oti for making continuous training a key feature of the Ministry, saying it was helping to keep its workforce abreast of developments in the engineering profession.
He appreciated the Civil Service Commission Chairman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Road Projects, Mr. Ebenezer Nkoro, and others who contributed to the programme, assuring that participants would make the most of the opportunity.
Some of the trainees, Joseph Owo and Nwankwo Michael, also expressed enthusiasm about the programme, saying it would enable them to upgrade their professional skills. They commended Governor Alex Otti for providing the opportunity through the Commissioner for Works and appealed for the training to be sustained.
The programme featured lectures and practical sessions on key aspects of road construction, maintenance, project supervision and public-sector administration.
