By Nna Anulumadu
A member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Oguama Valentine, has advised the general public, particularly prospective land developers, landlords, and clients, to engage qualified engineers when embarking on construction projects. This advice was given at the commissioning of Shanahan University’s student canteen, a building engineered by Engr. Oguama.
Engr. Oguama attributed the rampant building collapses in the country to clients engaging unqualified individuals, such as brick layers and iron benders, instead of professional engineers. He also criticized clients who direct site engineers on the materials to use, emphasizing that a qualified engineer can be identified by the quality of ongoing projects on site.
As the CEO of Double Eagle Engineering and Consultancy Services LTD, Engr. Oguama stressed the importance of demanding professional certificates from individuals seeking to handle building projects. He highlighted his own experience and reputation for delivering high-quality projects, stating, “Any project I handle, I do it as if it’s my own. I focus on the quality and delivering the project satisfactorily.”
Engr. Oguama has built numerous buildings for the Catholic Church and Shanahan University, including the student canteen. He is currently handling other projects at University such as staff quarters, Management Science building, auditorium, third gate, and generator house .He emphasized his commitment to delivering quality work without prioritizing financial gain.
The engineer criticized wealthy individuals who engage unqualified engineers to handle their projects, often citing cost concerns. “All these roadside engineers don’t know anything about engineering works. They don’t know the reasons for using specific sizes of iron rods in building a house. They just use rods without understanding the reasons. Everything must be done by calculation before you know where each rod will fit in.”
Engr. Oguama’s advice serves as a reminder of the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects to prevent building collapses and ensure quality workmanship.
