The importance of engineering and innovation for national development was brought to the fore at the World Engineering Day Celebration of the Nigeria (NSE), Akure Branch on the 5th of March, 2020 held at the TI Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology Akure. Speaking on the theme: “Engineering and Educational Innovation: Keys to Sustainable National Development”, keynote speaker and Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Development), Professor Philip Oguntunde represented by Dr. Peter Ayodeji, said the work of engineers is a link between scientific discoveries and commercial applications for societal benefits. Oguntunde said modern nations and institutions commit efforts and resources to boost, protect and turn innovation to wealth in order to guarantee competitiveness and economic power. He stated that the time had come for Nigeria to transform creative ideas and innovations into innovative startups adding that startup companies are the link in bringing government funded research to public domain. The Don however pointed out that innovations must be sustainable and adaptable and useful in solving societal problems.
The President, NSE Akure branch, Engr. Dr (Mrs.) Christina Ijagbemi said that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) will not be achievable without the field of Engineering. She said the contributions of Engineering to the world cannot be underestimated. She said the aim of this year’s celebration is to develop the interest of youths in innovation and engineering education.
In subsequent lectures the trio of Engr Oladeji Boyinbode, Deputy Director, Physical Planning Unit, FUTA Engr. Oba Dr. Adebisi Akinola Mechanical Engineering Department, FUTA and Engr. Dr. Kehinde Temikotan, Elizade University underscored the importance of collaboration and synergy among the academic and practitioners of innovative engineering adding that right policies must be put in place to advance technological innovation.On the way forward, it was a general consensus that Engineering education is indispensable to national development while a system that encourages the study of Engineering should be evolved and retention of quality academics, which is critical to future engineering education, should be sought to nurture and mentor young professionals. The government was called upon to revamp moribund technical colleges while regulating bodies of Engineering Education in Nigeria should work together and present a uniform NUC/COREN curriculum for engineering.