Students in academia and engineering at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, have urged the Federal Government to boost funding for technology infrastructure and practical engineering education, arguing that Nigeria needs to fill gaps in hands-on training to stay competitive on a global scale.
The call came after 37 engineering students and two faculty members from the institution returned from a 20-day practical training program at Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Hangzhou, China.
During a conversation with journalists on Saturday at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Professor Moses Onibonoje,the Provost of ABUAD’s College of Engineering, stated that the program introduced students to cutting-edgeengineering technologies and industry practices that are mostly absent in Nigeria.
He noted that the hands-on training came after finishing a three-month theoretical segment in Nigeria, allowing students to adapt smoothly to the learning environment of the Chinese institution.
He mentioned, “The attendees were given practical training in programmable logic control systems, digital twin technology, robotic arm design, Computer Numerical Control machines, 2D and 3D printing, coordinate milling machines, and advanced metrology tools.
“This is a groundbreaking initiative for the College of Engineering, and the experience has been incredible.” Our students developed proficient abilities in smart manufacturing and smart control technologies. They also obtained global experience through collaboration with top-tier facilities.
He noted that the programme provided the students with firsthand exposure to China’s work ethic, culture, and technological innovations.
He also praised the Founder and Chancellor of the university, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for fostering the partnership, describing it as a platform that would strengthen future academic collaborations, including postgraduate scholarship opportunities and exchange programmes.
In his remarks, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Imhade Okokpujie, stated that Nigerian students have the intellectual ability to compete with their counterparts worldwide.
However, he identified the lack of adequate laboratory and workshop facilities as a significant obstacle to unlocking their full potential.
She said the students displayed exceptional intelligence and adaptability throughout the programme, actively participating in practical sessions on programming, advanced manufacturing and 3D printing.
According to her, Nigeria must make intentional investments in modern laboratories and hands-on learning facilities if it hopes to compete globally in engineering.
Some of the beneficiaries described the training as a transformative experience.
One of the participants, a 500-level Mechanical Engineering student, Adeniji Opeyemi, said the programme gave students the opportunity to translate classroom knowledge into practical skills through the use of state-of-the-art equipment.
“We utilized CNC lathes, CNC mills, 3D printing technology, and digital twin systems.” “These are technologies we had studied in theory but had never used practically,” he stated.
Opeyemi encouraged the government to furnish Nigerian universities with advanced engineering resources, highlighting that students in China allocate more time to workshops and laboratories compared to traditional classrooms.
Likewise, a 500-level Mechatronics Engineering student, Judith Obioha, mentioned that the presence of adequate equipment allowed each student to acquire hands-on experience.
She mentioned that participants also acquired basic knowledge of Chinese language and culture and toured museums during the exchange program.
The university stated that the initiative is part of its efforts to enhance global partnerships and prepare its graduates with expertise in automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing.
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