By OLATUNDE AJAYI

The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) on Thursday swore in Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu as its 12th President and conferred 10 members as fellows.

Speaking at the investiture in Lagos, Onwualu said that the academy needs to interface more with different arms of government in order to be part of policy formulation.

He added that the academy needs to revive technical skills, vocational and entrepreneurship education to prepare future graduates.

“We need to work on academia industry collaboration to drive innovation in all sectors of the economy using technology hubs to promote re-industrialisation and revitalisation of critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

“We need to use our wealth of experience to advice government on finding engineering and technology based solutions to the current challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, “he said.

Prof. Raifu Salawu, the guest lecturer and past president of the academy, said in his lecture titled: “Engineering Education in Nigeria, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” that there had not been commensurate increase in funding for the institutions in Nigeria.

Salawu added that in spite of the new scientific knowledge about teaching and learning, significant transformation of engineering education in Nigeria remained elusive.

He predicted that within the next 10 years, increasing number of students would turn to credit granting Massively Open Online Courses (MOOC), causing a major shakeup in higher education.

“To avoid obsolesce, institutions must add value that cannot be easily provided by video teaching or other technology,” he said.

He urged institutions to adopt the use of active learning to engage student in projects, design and laboratory experiences that would prepare them for professional practice.

Earlier, the outgoing president of the academy, Mr. Alex Ogedegbe, said that the mission of the academy was to generate and expand the coverage of new ideas and increase appropriate applications for policy formulation and presents same, as recommendations to stakeholders for the progress of the nation.

One of the in inductees, Dr Mrs Adenike Amao, a female engineer, called on parents to give special support to a female child that show interest in science and engineering field which has become male dominated profession.

Amao added that there were many issues that could discourage female in engineering profession.

She urged women in engineering field to always approach women professional body such as the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) for mentorship.

NAN reports that the event also featured life achievement awards presentation to deserving members and lectures among others. (NAN)

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