Tanzanian Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega has called on local engineers to develop innovative, disaster-resilient solutions as the country prepares for the projected El Niño rains expected to begin by the end of this month. Speaking to over 4,000 engineers during the 23rd Annual Engineers’ Day in Dar es Salaam, Mr Ulega emphasized the need for professionals to help mitigate the anticipated effects of heavy rains, including flooding. He urged engineers to develop practical and smart solutions before and during the rainy season.
Mr Ulega encouraged engineers to acquire knowledge and skills from countries with advanced infrastructure, citing China and South Korea as examples. He also urged them to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, robotics, and data analytics, to improve their performance in the digital era. According to Mr Ulega, Tanzanian engineers should become active users of emerging technologies rather than observers.
Mr Ulega expressed confidence that local engineers were ready to embrace AI, saying it could save time and reduce operational costs and energy consumption. He also urged engineers to contribute significantly to the implementation of Tanzania Development Vision 2050. The Minister cited the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, with an installed capacity of 2,115 megawatts, and the Standard Gauge Railway as examples of strategic projects in which local engineers had contributed.
The 23rd Annual Engineers’ Day event, held under the theme ‘Leveraging Engineers’ Innovation and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development,’ was attended by about 4,000 engineers from across the country, with another 1,000 following virtually. Engineers Registration Board Registrar, Eng Benard Kavishe, said the event had strengthened relations between the government, private sector, and learning institutions while inspiring young people to pursue engineering programmes.
Engineers Board of Kenya representative Monica Wangare urged continued exchange of knowledge and experience between Tanzanian and Kenyan engineers. The two-day forum provided a platform for engineers to share ideas and best practices in their field. Mr Ulega’s call for disaster-resilient solutions comes as Tanzania prepares for the projected El Niño rains, which are expected to have a significant impact on the country’s infrastructure and economy.
The Engineers’ Day event was established in 2003 and has since become an annual event. It brings together engineers from across the country to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices in their field. The event also provides a platform for engineers to interact with government officials, private sector representatives, and learning institutions.
The Minister’s call for engineers to develop innovative solutions ahead of the projected El Niño rains is a timely reminder of the need for proactive measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters. With the right solutions in place, Tanzania can reduce the risk of damage to its infrastructure and economy.
Key points
- Tanzanian engineers are urged to develop disaster-resilient solutions ahead of projected El Niño rains.
- Engineers are encouraged to acquire knowledge and skills from countries with advanced infrastructure.
- Local engineers are urged to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
