The 9th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week 2023 opened in Pretoria with Deputy President of South Africa, the Honourable Paul Mashatile, delivering the keynote address on 25 September 2023. Hosted by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the event brought together dignitaries from across the African continent at the CSIR International Convention Centre from 25 to 28 September 2023.
Investing in infrastructure for economic growth
Opening Africa Engineering Week 2023, Deputy President Mashatile framed infrastructure investment as central to prosperity and quality of life.
“Investing in world class infrastructure contributes significantly to improving the quality of lives of citizens, as well as the competitiveness and attractiveness of countries, regions and cities.”
“Engineering is the backbone of any society and plays a role in shaping the world driving technological advancements, infrastructure development and economic progress.”
He noted that African engineers are “at the forefront of ground-breaking projects addressing pressing challenges in energy, water, transportation, freight and logistics, and also in the communication sector,” and called for investment in education and the next generation of engineers so that “engineering is central to Africa’s growth and prosperity.”
A call for collaboration across sectors
Speaking before the Deputy President, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Honourable Sihle Zikalala, urged broader investment in the profession: “We call on everyone including the private sector to join government in investing in the development of engineering professionals so that the built environment sector can function effectively by enhancing collaboration between academia, industry, the private sector and government.” He emphasised that engineers must not consider themselves as pure technicians with no role in policymaking, adding: “We must collaborate and your practical knowledge must inform the policy direction for our country to succeed.”
ECSA President Refilwe Buthelezi delivered the conference opening address, describing the gathering as a convergence of like-minded individuals working to transform the sector and prioritise infrastructure development. She stressed the importance of STEM education:
“The African continent is undergoing a transition period, a period where we need to focus on rapid transformation and economic growth. This event aims to increase visibility of engineering in South Africa, but also within the continent and the role that we play in creating a sustainable future. We are calling for more collaboration in growing the engineering pipeline. And this we believe, can be done by focusing more on basic education. STEM education is essential for Africa’s future development as it produces students with the skills and knowledge, they need to solve some of the complex problems that we are facing on a day-to-day basis.”
Voices from across the continent
UNESCO Regional Director Martiale Zebazekan reflected on nine years of Africa Engineering Week, stating: “No one institution or individual country can achieve sustainable development on its own – collaboration and partnerships and access to reliable data are key.” Mustafa Shehu, President-Elect of the World Federation of Engineering (WFEO), acknowledged “the need for diversity and inclusivity within our profession,” while Eng. Papias Kazawadi Dedeki, President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), described the conference theme as “a call to action.”
Conference Chair and FAEO Past President for Southern Africa, Eng. Martin Manuhwa, appealed to policymakers to ensure the engineering field is properly regulated and that only competent, qualified professionals are allowed to practise. Delivering the vote of thanks, ECSA CEO Dr Bridget Ssamula said: “As we engage, collaborate and network over the next three, four days, we look to innovate. We look to grow.” The conference ran dedicated programmes for women in engineering, students and young professionals, business-to-business networking and technical papers.
Original Press Release
About ECSA
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is the statutory body established under the Engineering Profession Act, 46 of 2000, mandated to regulate the engineering profession in South Africa. ECSA is responsible for the accreditation of engineering programmes, the registration of engineering practitioners, and upholding professional and ethical standards across the profession.
Issued by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
ECSA Media Contact
Sybil Dlamini, Manager: Marketing and Communication
Email: sybil@ecsa.co.za | Tel: 073 623 8275
Website: www.ecsa.co.za
This article is based on an official ECSA press release. Read the original statement.
