Seasoned practitioners in the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) are willing to complement lecturers at the First Technical University in the teaching and exposure of students to industry realities. This is one of the promises of 2023 and the management of the university hopes this become a reality this 2024. Industry experts have been part of the teaching culture at Tech-U, but the offer that came from the NSE seems more deliberate.
The umbrella body of qualified engineers in the country had cemented the relationship between it and Tech-U when it presented an award to the Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Professor Adesola Ajayi, in recognition of his efforts as well as that of the institution in deepening engineering knowledge. The NSE President, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, unveiled the inspiring packaging when he paid a courtesy call toProfessor Ajayi.
At the meeting held in the Vice Chancellor’s office as part of the Engineer Ifedayo Akintunde Annual Lecture, Professor Ajayi noted that Tech-U was ready to further partner NSE for mutual benefits. He said the university had invested intensely in infrastructure, citing the example of the Engineering Workshop it built, in which there are many facilities that include material-testing equipment.
He recalled that the relationship between Tech-U and the NSE had always been positive.
According to him, the society participated in the curriculum review of the university. In furthering the relationship, the VC then invited the NSE as practitioner teachers.
Professor Ajayi said, “We bring in people in practice to teach, to complement the efforts of our lecturers. As a matter of fact, we will award professors of practice because of the importance we place on the contributions that practicing experts can make in the overall development of our students. This is a principle long practised in the developed climes, especially by American institutions. So, anyone is welcome and I like to seize this opportunity to extend the invitation to you esteemed members of the NSE. We want people who can add value.”
In his remarks, the NSE President acknowledged the significance of the ideals of the First Technical University, based on its focus on technical, vocational and entrepreneurial training. He said many universities jettisoned the aspects because they were cost intensive.
He welcomed the idea and promised that the society would positively consider the offer.
He said, “I’m very happy you made mention of the question of people in practice. We have a lot of them in our fold. People should not just live and die with the valuable professional experiences they have garnered over the years or decades. Imagine the impact that someone who has consulted for 30 years can make on learners.
“We are ready to give back. I am ready to teach pro bono. I need to groom people. There is a gap and there are many passionate members of the NSE who will come and serve.”
Dr Ifolu Omoniyi Akintunde, the Guest Lecturer at the event, where a former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, was conferred with the Fellowship Award, stressed the need for engineers and other stakeholders to always consider people with disability in the planning and building of facilities.
According to him, 15 per cent of the population of every country is made up of people with disability. This, he said, suggested that as many as 30 million people were in this bracket based on the country’s population.
He said people with disability would not be a burden and would contribute to national development if they were well catered for.
Akintunde added, “Persons with disability will give back when they get an accessible environment. Accessibility means making the environment meaningful and useful for disabled people.
“We need to include minorities in our thinking, and that is if you think 30 million people are a minority. Only five per cent of building materials are in the accessible form. When you provide accessibility, you open up potential. Engineers should, for instance, have accessibility in mind when drainage is being designed. If you are designing a website, you should consider the condition of people with disability.”
Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering, First Technical University, Dr Oyetunde Adeaga, commended the speaker and the organisers in general. He said the lecture provided an insight into how to continue making engineering inclusive in terms of the services it rendered to mankind.
“Engineering is an all-encompassing field. So, there is need for synergy. The lecture provided an insight into why we should come together as engineers to solve problems,” Adeaga said.
Barrister Ayo Adekanmbi, a former adviser to Governor Makinde on Disability Matters, highlighted the role the government is playing to make life meaningful for affected people.
“Accessibility is a serious issue government has been battling with. People are not really disabled; but the environment creates barriers. The good news, however, is that the state Assembly has passed the bill establishing the Oyo State Agency for People with Disability, which will soon be unveiled. In Oyo State, all school textbooks are also in brail forms,” Adekambi added.
Professor Adesola Ajayi described the lecture as an eye opener, saying it would deepen the institutions’ commitment to inclusivity.
The Tech-U’s VC said, “As a university, we will take a deliberate action to improve access for people with disability. From this moment, for benefit of giving life, to the lecture, we will explore areas to improve accessibility
