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The Sectors Where Engineers are Found

by Fred Nwaozor > This classification captures the major ecosystems or sectors where professional engineers operate. What matters is how their roles shift in focus across these sectors, even though the core engineering principles remain the same. 1. Government (Policy formulation & implementation) In government, engineers function less as hands-on designers and more as technical decision-makers. They contribute to national development by shaping policies, regulations, and standards that guide engineering practice. For example, a civil or telecom engineer in a regulatory agency may help draft infrastructure policies, evaluate national projects, or enforce compliance with safety and quality standards. Their authority ensures that engineering decisions align with public interest; balancing cost, safety, sustainability, and long-term impact. Here, engineering judgment influences what gets built, how it is built, and whether it should be built at all. 2. Academia (Teach...

ECOWAS Approves January 2025 for Exit of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso

By Kings Olajide
The Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, as a transitional period for Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray made this known while reading the communique at the end of the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Dr. Touray, a Gambian diplomat, said the authority had taken note of the notification by the three countries on their decision to withdraw from the ECOWAS.

He disclosed that the bloc Authority acknowledged that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries would officially cease to be members from January 29, 2025.

He stated: “In this regard, the Authority extends the mandate of President Gnassingbe of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.

“Without prejudice, for the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the deadline of January 29, 2025, and to draw up a contingency plan covering various areas.

“The Authority directs the Council of Ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali, and Burkina Faso.”

Dr. Touray further notified that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government commended the diplomatic engagement of Senegal’s President, Bassirou Faye, and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe.

He said the authority also commended the diplomatic efforts of the ECOWAS Chairman, Chief Bola Tinubu, and other individual member states towards the three countries.

Fred Nwaozor, popularly known as TheMediaAmbassador, is a Nigerian tech expert, author, creative & content writer, media strategist, policy analyst, blogger, public speaker and rights activist. The renowned columnist regularly writes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and is the Founder & Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), Nigeria. He's a chartered industrial physicist, engineer and IT personnel. As a media guru, he enjoys an active presence in all media segments - including electronic, print & digital - since two decades ago till date. As a full-time researcher and educator, he's a regular contributor and peer reviewer for various internationally-noted engineering journals. As Telecommunications and Automation engineer, his research interest mainly lies in System Modelling, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart city, Cybersecurity, Wireless networks, and Machine Learning (ML).