Evaluation of Structural Engineer Continuing Professional Development Participation in Northern Nigeria

Continuing professional development is an obligation for registered structural engineers under the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria framework, yet participation rates and the quality of CPD activities across Nigeria's northern regions are not well documented. This study evaluates continuing professional development participation among structural engineers registered with COREN who are primarily practising in North Central, North West, and North East states. A questionnaire survey administered to 155 structural engineers collected data on annual CPD hours, activity types, barriers to participation, and self-assessed competency gains from CPD engagement. Survey findings were supplemented by analysis of CPD activity records from three regional branches of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Results indicate that only 31 percent of respondents met the minimum CPD requirement of 30 structured hours per year, with the average across all respondents being 14.2 hours. Engineers in private practice reported higher participation rates than those in public service, by a margin of 19 percentage points, attributed to employer indifference to CPD compliance in public agencies. Access constraints including travel distances to CPD event venues and internet connectivity limitations in rural-based engineers were cited as the most significant barriers by 58 percent of respondents. Structural engineering-specific CPD content was perceived as inadequate, with respondents reporting that most available workshops were general management or contractual in focus rather than technical. The study recommends a regional CPD delivery model utilising hub-and-spoke centres, COREN enforcement of CPD compliance at registration renewal, and expanded online CPD content accessible by engineers in remote postings. Keywords: continuing professional development, structural engineers, Northern Nigeria, COREN, professional competency.