The Association of consulting Engineering Nigeria, ACEN, was founded in 1972 and registered in 1979.Its objective is the Development of consulting engineering practice in Nigeria by the mobilization of private sector engineering consultants For the advancement of the consulting engineering sub-sector of the built environment industry. The focus of this effort Is to ensure that the highest level of technical competence and business ethics are brought to bear on the \Nigerian people The profession in Nigeria. This will turn result in the highest level of quality of infrastructures for Nigerian people At the most cost-effective prices.

ACEN MEMBERSHIP

Until December 2007 , ACEN membership was open to individual and firm members with the required experience and Professional integrity. At the 2007 AGM, a motion was passed limiting ACEN membership to firms. This is to further Emphasize the business nature and focus of the association. Membership is therefore now open to consulting Engineering firms with the adequate experience and commitment to continuous improvement in technical and business Integrity.

As at December 2007 , ACEN had about 157 firm members and 129 individual members. Upon rationalization of the Individual category which has now been eliminated, ACEN firm membership will be about 200 firm members.

The aim of ACEN is to have members in every state of the federation and the federal capital, as every state is entitled to The highest level of consulting engineering practice. Today, ACEN has members in only 21 of the 37 state and FCT. Of the State in which we are present, only four states have the critical number for effective association. These are Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Kaduna. Our effort will therefore be directed at consolidating our presence in the state in which we Are strong, strengthen our associations in those in which we are weak, and established presence where we are absent.

ACEN, NSE & COREN

Sometimes the public is confused or not very clear about the roles of different engineering organizations. The Council For the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, CREN, is the statutory body with responsibility for all engineering Activities in Nigeria. It covers three broad areas of engineering craftsmen, technologists and engineers. No individual or Organization is allowed to practice engineering in Nigeria without the approval of COREN. Thus all members of ACEN Includes engineering education, manufacturing, public service and all facets of the profession.

COREN maintains a register of all engineers and engineering firms.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers is the umbrella association of all graduate engineers in Nigeria. It registers only Individual engineers and has student, member and fellow categories. Although a voluntary organization, all engineers Are proud to be members, and virtually all ACEN individual members are members of NSE. Conversely, most members of NSE with interest in consulting engineering practice are members of ACEN.

NSE works through branches and addresses Technical, statutory, Professional and other concerns of the engineer.

Unlike COREN and NSE which have universal coverage of engineering coverage, ACEN focuses only on the business Interest of consulting engineers. Its interest is therefore specific and complementary to the scope of COREN and NSE

ACEN, FIDIC & GAMA

Right from the beginning, ACEN founding fathers had international relationship as part of their primary focus. The International Federation of Consulting Engineers, FIDIC, provides the strongest platform for our international Activities. Even before formal registration as an association in Nigeria, ACEN members attended FIDIC conference in Observer status. Today, ACEN plays an active role in the 82 member organization, Two of ACEN members, Engr. J I Folayan and Bayo Adeola have served on the Executive Committee, the highest level of the organization. Others have served on committees and task forces of the organization, and members attend the annual conferences in large Numbers.

FIDIC aim is be the voice of the consulting engineer in the word, and it seeks to do this through seven major focus Areas of Representation, Business Practice, Ethics/integrity, Image, Sustainability, Globalization & Quality.

FIDIC is perhaps best known for its contracts documents, which are used all over the world, especially international projects in the third word.

The documents are used extensively by the Federal Ministry of Works. In addition, FIDIC has a Guide to Practice that teaches best practice in consulting engineering, Business Integrity Management Manual, Quality Management Manual and several others.

African members of FIDIC in 1992 formed the Group of African Member Association, GAMA, as a subset of FIDIC to address Specifically African concerns. GAMA currently has 13 member, holds regular annual conferences and ACM, and promotes Networking among its members. Nigeria played a very active role in the formation of GAMA and has continued to be very Active in the association.

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