Engineering Technology & Industrialization Exhibition

Programme of Events
DAY ONE

1. Arrival of Guests /Members
2. Registration
3. Cultural Display
4. Opening Ceremony
5. Welcome Address
6. Chairman's opening remark
7. Keynote Address by AKSU VC
8. Tea break
9. Lecture 1 & 2
10. Exhibition Day 1
11. Goodwill messages
12. Closing Remarks
13. Soccer medley

We the Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMECHE) University of uyo chapter had to convey ourselves to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).

On arrival, after about 1 Hour 45 minutes we were directed to sign in and Register immediately so as to begin the event.

After the Cultural Display and Opening Ceremony which happened so fast (I wasn't at the venue cos I was with some friends at the cafeteria trying to get something to eat😂😂).

We came back just in time to meet the Deputy Vice-versa Chancellor[DVC] Academics of Akwa Ibom State University [AKSU] Prof. Esio Okitefre Oboho as he was giving the Welcome Address.

The DVC thanked the NIMECHE for their constant support and for the promises they constantly keep..

While on the Welcome Address, the DVC made mention of how successful Mechanical Engineering students have been in the school, as one of the numerous success he mentioned how the department has produced best graduating students with Cumulative Grade Point Average [CGPA] of over 4.9..

The chairman's opening Remark was obviously taken by the National Chairman of NIMECHE in the person of Engr. Ugochukwu Nzurumike who in the course of the remark congratulated the DVC of Aksu for doing his work so well and rewarded him instantly instant with NIMECHE membership as he was given the membership tag and form [pictures below]

The National Chairman also pleaded the DVC to convince staff members of Aksu to join NIMECHE
for a better collaboration.

The tea break was postponed till after the programme due to lateness.

The lecture was taken by Engr. Augustine Ikebude Okolo


Engr. Augustine Ikebude Okolo FNSE is a seasoned professional with broad experience spamming from acedemia to industry.

A mechanical engineer of Delta state extraction, whose strong planning and problem solving skills had over the years steered the rubber of many companies in Nigeria out of troubled economic waters.

He is presently the General Manager Operations PAN Nigeria Limited and among the other responsibilities directly in-charge of the assembly of Peugeot brand of vehicles in the Kaduna plant.

Engr. A. I. Okolo FNSE, is a fellow of the following bodies:

• Nigerian Society of Engineers
• Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers
• Automative Engineers Institute
• Institute of Corporate Administration
• cooperate member of Society of Automotive Engineers Inc. USA.

Besides English Language, he is proficient in 2 other foreign language which are apart of the legacies of the exploits in the early years of his career. He holds Master degrees in both Engineering and Business Administration.

Engr Augustine Ikebude Okolo was the immediate past National Chairman of the Automotive Engineers Institute a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has distinguished himself in the automotive sector of the Nigerian Economy.

He is a field Representative of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International.

LECTURE TOPIC: THE ROLE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

The GDP of the country has been on the low part for a long time and the contribution of manufacturing companies has been low also.

• Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountaineous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle rearing but yet they import raw materials and manufacture high quality goods.

• Switzerland does not plant but they produce the best chocolate 🍫 and have a robot production plant.

• Singapore is a very small country 640sq.km [Lagos is 3345sq.km] it does not have a single well of crude oil, but it is the world's Third largest Crude oil refining centre.

• Dubai in United Arab Emirate with the exploits of Mechanical Engineering were just like Nigeria few years but they invested and today they are the world's best Tourist centre.

• Netherland which ranks 14th in GDP were low before they decided to invest heavily and now they are a well developed country.

View of the conference stage

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRIES 

These myriads of challenges in manufacturing should only challenge the engineers and industries to collaborate more and bring out the best of their collaboration by manufacturing our own goods rather than continuous imortation.

Atimes one comes across individuals or groups with the notion that Nigerian engineers lack the technical know-how in their profession.

The truth is that many Nigerian engineers (mechanical engineers in closure) are eminently qualified and competent to rank high anywhere in the world.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES
As part of its diversification plan, the federal government of Nigeria signed a power purchase agreement with twelve (12) firms for the construction of Solar power plants in Eight (8) states to provide 95kw of power.

He said that mechanical Engineers should work theirselves into the ministries so as to enable good policies to be made because some of these policies are made by people who have no idea of Engineering and thus this constitutes part of our problem.

Cross-section of NIMECHE Executives

INNOVATION VS. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
One of the key requirement for technology development is innovation which Peter Drucker defined as the ability to achieve change that creates a new dimension of performance atleast new to the natural economy if not new to the wider world.

Innovation presents a good platform for mechanical engineering practitioners and engineers to begin to think of things to do in order to better their immediate Environment.



University of uyo(UNIUYO) and Akwa Ibom State University students (AKSU) students listening to lecture
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Engineering Education imports directly on technology in a country.
Theodore Van Karma said "scientist study the world as it is, while Engineers create the world that has never been".

Industry ought to collaborate with Educational Institutions Exchanging knowledge and Ideas.

• Sweden is 12th on GDP per capita Ranking. One major strong part of the economy is their well equipped and designed Universities and schooling facilities.

University of Uyo Final year Student asking questions for better clarification

WHAT QUALIFIES MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AS KEY PLAYERS

1. They must have good leadership
   a. They must inspire trust
   b. They must clarify purpose
   c. They must align systems and
   d. They must unleash talent

2. They must be Analytical

3. They must be detailed Oriented

4. They must have ability to take risk

5. They must be Tech-savvy (i.e engineers must keep up with the current technology in the world).

6. They must have ability to think outside the box.

After the lecture, the floor was open for EXHIBITION ..

Below are the photos of some exhibition from students from Government technical College Afaha Eket


Hydraulic Excavator

Below are the photos of Exhibition from AKSU Students


Melon Dehusking machine

After the exhibition, time was given for TEA BREAK where the NIMECHE Executives and the students were given Doughnuts 🍩 and Tea 🍵 for refreshment.

After these, the GOODWILL MESSAGES and CLOSING REMARK were given.

After the Remark, students then took up taking pictures with the executives and Exhibitions as a major duty..

That's how the day went.... I'm soo saturated right now and I'm sure that what I learnt from this conference will keep me throughout my days as a Mechanical Engineer...

myself after the Conference

My coursemates after the conference