Always Engage Qualified Engineers to Avert Building Collapse – Oguama Urges Clients

Engineer Valentine Oguama

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

A member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engineer Valentine Oguama, has urged the general public,especially prospective land developers, landlords, and clients to always engage qualified engineers for construction projects to prevent the risk of building collapse.

Engr. Oguama gave this advice in Onitsha during the commissioning of the Shanahan University Student Canteen by the Archbishop of the Onitsha Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke.

Speaking to journalists, Engr. Oguama, who is the CEO of Double Eagle Engineering and Consultancy Services Ltd, attributed the rising incidence of building collapses to the alarming trend of unqualified personnel such as bricklayers and iron benders being hired in place of certified engineers to supervise construction projects.

He also criticized clients who interfere with technical decisions on construction sites, particularly those who dictate the materials to be used without professional input.

He noted that a qualified engineer can be identified not just by certificates but also by the quality of work and technical precision visible at the project site.

Oguama, who has supervised numerous construction projects for the Catholic Church including those at the Shanahan University permanent site,stressed that every client should demand to see a professional certificate before engaging anyone as an engineer.

“What has made me prominent as a professional engineer and a reputable contractor is the quality of my work and my commitment to timely delivery,”
“Any project I handle, I treat it as if it were my personal project. I don’t prioritize money; I prioritize quality and client satisfaction. At Shanahan University’s permanent site, I built the student canteen, staff quarters, Management Science building (still under construction), the auditorium, the third gate, and the generator house.”he said.

He further stated that he undertakes building projects for parishes within the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, emphasizing that he gives his all to every project without focusing solely on profit.

“I always commit my heart fully to any project, especially when it involves the Archdiocese. That’s why they keep inviting me,because they know I deliver high-quality work and not just chase money,” he added.

Engineer Oguama also criticized wealthy individuals who opt to hire unqualified personnel for building projects in an attempt to cut costs.

“These roadside engineers don’t truly understand engineering principles. They have no idea why specific sizes of iron rods are used in construction. They simply use rods arbitrarily, without calculations or structural understanding,”
“Engineering is precise. Every rod, every material, must be calculated and placed accurately. But these unqualified workers operate with a ‘we’ve always done it this way’ mentality, which is dangerous.”he said.