Mezie-Oscar Francis, a Computer Engineering graduate of Achievers University, Owo, has emerged as the first runner-up in the 2026 Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Department of Engineering Training (CODET) Best Engineering Graduate (BEG) Competition, a national contest that assessed the academic and technical competencies of top engineering graduates from Nigerian universities.
Francis scored 255 points, finishing six points behind the overall winner, who scored 261 points, in a field of 23 finalists representing engineering faculties of universities across Nigeria.
The CODET BEG Competition is regarded as one of Nigeria’s benchmark assessments for engineering graduate quality, evaluating finalists on technical knowledge, problem-solving, and professional readiness. Francis’s placement positions him among the country’s most promising young engineers entering the profession.
His national recognition follows an equally strong academic record at Achievers University. Francis graduated as the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Achievers University, for the 2024/2025 academic session, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.61 on a 5.00 scale.
Francis’s performance contributes to ongoing national conversations on the quality of engineering training in Nigerian universities, particularly the role of private institutions in producing globally competitive graduates. With Nigeria’s growing demand for skilled engineers across technology, infrastructure, energy, and digital innovation sectors, outcomes from competitions such as the CODET BEG provide measurable indicators of graduate readiness for industry challenges.
According to the Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Ayodele Onawunmi, while commenting on the achievement, “Mezie-Oscar Francis’s result reflects the standard of training delivered through our engineering programmes and the commitment of our faculty to producing graduates who can compete at the highest national and international levels. We congratulate him and encourage current students to pursue similar standards of excellence.”Prof. Omawumi also noted that the award will be presented at the 2026 COREN Assembly scheduled to hold between July 13th – 15th, 2026.
