Nigeria Engineers have tasked the Federal Government to lead in the adoption, standardization and commercialization of indigenous engineering innovations and inventions to fasten the growth and prosperity of engineering industries in in the country.
The Engineers also recommended that public-private sector collaboration should be vigorously pursued and encouraged by government at all levels to advance local production of agricultural, manufacturing, communication and surveillance systems through policy initiatives and incentives by providing adequate grants for research and development
The Engineers announced these as part of their resolutions during the third biannual international conference of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia state which has professor Maduebibisi Ofor Iwe as the Vice Chancellor ( VC ) and professor Edwin Isiguzo Ahaneku as the Dean of the CEET.
The theme of the three days conference ” Engineering for Sustainable Economy, Security and Agricultural Development”, provided the platform for the 1,651 participants comprising front-line researchers, policymakers, captains of industries, government functionaries, farmers and students within and outside Nigeria to network, exchange knowledge and explore opportunities of eliminating human treats through engineering innovations.
Pointing out that sustainable economic practices and national strategy for empowerment of the citizens, with Nigeria engineering research outputs as crucial to enhance Gross Domestic Products (GDP), cyber and food security indices of the nation, the Conferees further stated ” government and organized private organizations should redouble efforts in engineering infrastructures investment and enforcement of safety standards and regulations in their operations to advance agricultural and industrial development in Nigeria”.
They stated that following their observations, while Nigeria of today needs serious relief from the dwindling condition in all facets of the human development index, and that although the economy holds immense potential for growth and diversification, it is presently vulnerable due to its over- reliance on unmanufactured export and imported consumer goods.
According to them, Nigeria has enough human and material resources as well as indigenous research inventions/innovations to revive her devastating economy and security, but that investments in engineering infrastructures for agricultural and industrial production, which is the bedrock for effective utilization of our stranded resources by both the government and private sector in this country is grossly inadequate.
Holding that Nigeria has enough human and material resources as well as indigenous research inventions/innovations to revive her devastating economy and security, the Conferees noted that the synergies between most government agencies, researchers, and organized private institutions especially in areas of standardization, extension and commercialization of our inventions/innovations are weedy, adding ” It is counterproductive to national security for government to expend huge resources on combating crimes and criminality, and less on human capacity development and empowerment”.
The Conference opening ceremony featured the exhibition of engineering innovations developed by staff and students of the CEET.
Similarly, the technical sessions featured lead paper presentation by the Executive Director/CEO National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) Ilorin- Engineer. Dr. Kamal Abdulgafar Rasheed and ninety-three (93) other papers structured around the conference three main thematic areas namely; Advances in Energy and Information Technology, Sustainable Engineering Innovations for Agricultural Development and Food Security and Materials Processing/Manufacturing and Infrastructural Development Frontiers.
According to the Chairman of the Conference Committee Professor Bethrand Nwankwojike, an engineer, the Conference participants commended MOUAU VC and its CEET for their efforts in advancing agricultural mechanization and industrial development in Nigeria urging the government and stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the Conference recommendations.
Written by Ude Ajahj
