Posted by Olaniyi Ola on
UK-based Nigerian engineers have developed an initiative to broaden skills among young students in the country......
UK-based Nigerian engineers have developed an initiative to broaden skills among young students in the country.
The scheme, christened "Higher Education Engineering Challenge" was launched last week in Lagos by the group operating under the auspices of the United Kingdom-based Engineering Forum of Nigerians.
Dr. Remi Olatunbosun, vice president of Engineering Forum of Nigerians (EFN) who is also the chairman of EFN Higher Education Engineering Challenge committee, said it was a way of giving something meaningful back to the society.
Speaking on behalf of the group at the launch of the new initiative, Olatunbosun said the scheme was designed as a competition among undergraduates in engineering field in the nation's universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, among others.
"Each year, an engineering challenge will be thrown to these up-and-coming engineers to offer innovative solutions to engineering bottlenecks under a theme, which is considered of vital importance to national development. A solution will be in the form of an engineering product (device or system) which must be either totally original or an innovative adaptation of an existing produce system," the EFN boss said.
Addressing the representatives of engineering students from various institutions in Lagos, Olatunbosun explained that emphasis would be placed on the use of available local materials and the environmental impact of the product.
"With the idea of what happens overseas, the truth is that Nigeria students are rated as one of the best in the world in terms of the theorical facilities but the only shortcoming is in the area of instrumentation which entails the use of more practical facilities to upgrade. It will be yearly affair with a view of promoting entrepreneurial ability of the students. We have recognised the fact that funding is a critical issue here. Most of our higher institutions are not dully funded by the various tiers of government. This therefore, calls for a promotion of alternative source of funds," he said.
He went further: "The EFN is committed to helping to bring to market those products which are judged to be capable of making a real impact in areas of national development. For this year's programme, the theme is "Provision of clean water." The solutions should fall within any of the water purification devices, pumping devices, water harvesting; supply piping and community water supply schemes."
Charging the contestants to be original in their ideas and focus on the potential impact on the improvement of clean water supply and the business case, upon which their entries would be judged, the EFN vice president said the competition would be in three stages. "It will start with the submission of application with an abstract; then a full report with detailed designs; and ending in Lagos with a formal presentation of products in April 2007."
The Engineering Forum of Nigerians (EFN) is an organisation which has, as one of its objectives, promotion of the development of the engineering profession in Nigeria. The EFN Higher Education Engineering Challenge is established as an annual competition which shall be open to all engineering students (at undergraduate level) in higher education institutions in Nigeria.
"The EFN is committed to helping to bring to market those products which are judged to be capable of making a real impact in areas of national development. This includes the filing of patents, expert advice on product development, sourcing venture capital and connection with prospective manufacturers," Olatunbosun said.