Nile University Hosts Landmark COREN–IEA Engineering Accreditation Review

Nile University of Nigeria is hosting a five-day engineering accreditation exercise involving the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a Verification Review Team from the International Engineering Alliance (IEA), as part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts towards full signatory status under the Washington Accord.

Nile University is one of only two Nigerian universities selected to participate in the exercise. The selection provides an opportunity for the IEA team to observe COREN’s accreditation processes in practice as part of its international review of Nigeria’s engineering accreditation system.

The exercise, which runs from November 9 to 13, 2026, covers the University’s Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum & Gas Engineering programmes. It brings together COREN programme evaluators and international engineering accreditation experts to assess the programmes against established outcome-based engineering education standards.

Among the international members of the IEA Verification Review Team are Prof. Oh-Yang Kwon of South Korea, Prof. Kwok Kit Richard Yuen of Hong Kong, and Mr Damien Owen of Ireland.

Speaking during the opening session, Engr. Prof. Laminu Shettima Kuburi, Team Lead, COREN Programme Evaluators, said the Council remained committed to maintaining high standards in engineering education and strengthening the quality of engineering graduates produced by Nigerian universities.

He described accreditation as a critical component of quality assurance, noting that it enables engineering programmes to demonstrate that their graduates possess the knowledge, skills and competencies required for professional practice. Prof. Kuburi also commended Nile University of Nigeria for its commitment to quality education and institutional development, noting that the exercise forms part of the broader process through which Nigeria is seeking greater alignment with international engineering accreditation standards.

Welcoming the accreditation team, the Vice-Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. Dilli Dogo, FNAMed, DFMC, said the University’s philosophy of ‘Beyond Degrees’ continues to shape its approach to education and its commitment to producing graduates equipped for professional practice and the demands of the global economy.

He emphasised that the University’s ambition extends beyond simply meeting established standards, stressing its commitment to continuously improving its programmes and exceeding the expectations of the benchmarks against which they are assessed.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, this approach is reflected in the University’s investment in practical learning and industry-relevant facilities, including its fabrication laboratory and plastic recycling plant, as well as professional development initiatives such as its ACCA certification programme.

He said these investments are designed to develop graduates who can apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, innovate within their fields and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Vice-Chancellor assured the accreditation team of the University’s full cooperation throughout the exercise and reaffirmed Nile University’s commitment to continuously strengthening its engineering programmes, academic resources and learning environment.

The significance of the exercise extends beyond the assessment of the two programmes. The Washington Accord is an international agreement among engineering accreditation bodies whose signatories recognise the substantial equivalence of accredited engineering education programmes across participating jurisdictions. Its recognition framework places emphasis on graduate outcomes and the ability of engineering programmes to prepare graduates for complex professional practice.

For Nile University of Nigeria, being selected as one of only two institutions for the exercise represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate the quality and outcomes of its engineering programmes within an internationally focused accreditation process.

The exercise also highlights the wider importance of strengthening engineering education in Nigeria, with effective accreditation providing a foundation for greater confidence in the quality, comparability and professional preparedness of Nigerian engineering graduates.