NIHTE, IRF Partner to Train Engineers on Sustainable Road Infrastructure

The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) and the International Road Federation (IRF) have partnered to train hundreds of engineers to address Nigeria’s perennial problem of poor road quality. The training, which is aimed at improving road and bridge infrastructure, is part of a sustained effort to equip professionals with the skills needed for sustainable road management.

The four-day workshop, themed “Managing Road Infrastructure Assets for Sustainability,” commenced on August 11, 2025, at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Auditorium in Abuja. According to the National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Francis Oriakhi, the partnership with the IRF began a decade ago and has since trained over a thousand engineers.

Speaking at the event, Engr. Oriakhi, who was represented by the immediate past chairman, Engr. Hassan Saidu, stated that the primary goal of the workshop is to build capacity and advocate for best practices. The training is designed to equip engineers, particularly those in government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the private sector, with modern techniques for road design, construction, and asset management.

“The workshop is designed to optimize the performance of the road network… it is a process seeking to maintain and improve the performance of the infrastructure assets system,” said Engr. Oriakhi. He added that the training would focus on understanding international standards, guidelines for road construction, and various road maintenance methods.

The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, praised the initiative as a proactive step toward strengthening Nigeria’s road conditions. She noted that road infrastructure is vital for national connectivity, economic activities, and development. The training is seen as a key component of the ongoing dialogue to improve infrastructure and support good governance in the country.