By Joy Joseph
The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) has identified artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology and sustainable engineering practices as key tools for developing safer and more resilient infrastructure in Nigeria.
The institution said the adoption of emerging technologies, alongside stricter enforcement of building regulations and greater professional oversight, would help address persistent challenges in the built environment, including building collapses and structural deficiencies.
The position was highlighted ahead of the NIStructE 2026 conference, themed “Re-Engineering Structural Practice for a Resilient, Digital and Sustainable Infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The President of NIStructE, Dr Taiwo Elegba, said the conference theme was informed by research and the need to respond to critical challenges confronting the built environment.
He stressed that every building required proper structural design to ensure safety, adding that professional competence and compliance with established standards were essential to delivering durable infrastructure.
The institution’s Deputy President, Engineer Aliu Aziz, identified the activities of unqualified practitioners and inadequate enforcement of building regulations as major concerns requiring urgent attention.
He said strengthening regulatory enforcement and ensuring that qualified professionals handled structural design and related engineering responsibilities were important steps towards preventing building failures.
The conference is expected to examine how technologies such as artificial intelligence, Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins and automation can improve structural engineering practice, project planning and infrastructure monitoring.
Participants are also expected to discuss climate-resilient construction, low-carbon building materials, local engineering capacity and the proposed Nigerian Seismic Design Guidelines (NSDG 2026).
These issues come amid growing concerns about the safety and sustainability of buildings and other infrastructure, particularly in the face of climate-related risks, flooding and the use of substandard construction materials.
A past president of the institution, Engineer Johnson Adegboyega Adeyioye, said the conference would provide an opportunity to deepen professional knowledge and strengthen structural engineering practice.
The chairman of the conference planning committee, Professor Musa, said between 120 and 200 delegates were expected at the event, with the Oyo State governor expected as guest of honour.
The institution said the conference would bring professionals and other stakeholders together to explore practical solutions for safer, more sustainable and technologically advanced infrastructure development in Nigeria.
