National Engineering Workshops

THE NEED TO INTRODUCE NATIONAL ENGINEERING WORKSHOPS FOR THE UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA

The drastic persistent state of decay in the Nigerian engineering sector that seems perpetual may look like a mere dramatic scene to the eyes of the myopic viewers, but it could have a pernicious influence on countless generation to come if urgent and adequate care is not taken.

The insistent insouciance among the citizenry or the concerned group is another sensitive and pathetic lapse attached to the aforementioned economic shortcoming. Needless to say that, a country tagged as a ‘giant’ by many quintessence of knowledge filled with tremendous intellectual depth appears sympathetic.

Engineering, according to BBC English dictionary, “is the work involving in designing and constructing machinery, electrical devices, or roads and bridges.” On the other hand, a workshop “is a room or building containing tools or machinery for making or repairing things”. Thus, an engineering workshop is a well equipped building established solely for the purpose of engineering activities. It could be set up (established) anywhere such as at the industry/factory, university, polytechnic, or the road side, as the case may be.

Engineering, as we can testify, is a professionally oriented and technical intensive discipline being studied in the most Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics, and all over the higher institutions in the world.

You will agree with me that, over the years, our engineering sector has been deteriorating and decaying due to the flopping of our industries with the half-baked engineers (scientists) from the Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics. Most of these engineers are unemployable, and this has been detrimental to our economy. One may boldly say that the major cause of this is lack of seriousness showcase by most lecturers, or the introduction of bribery and corruption in our various schools. But, this may not be exactly the fundamental cause of the occurring scenario. Honestly, the rot is being experienced as a result of inadequate or non technical know-how undergo by the engineering students (undergraduates) in various higher institutions in the country.

Nigeria, as a giant of Africa, should be producing the most experienced and qualified engineers/technologists, but the reverse remains the case. This is due to the lack of sufficient attention and improper management by the government.

There is only one way out. Well equipped workshops should be established in each of our existing universities and polytechnics that studies engineering, and should be properly monitored. Also, some standard national engineering workshops should be set up. They should be located to several strategic points in Nigerian, so that, the graduating students would undergo a one year compulsory technical training after the completion of the required course works in their respective schools. Such students shall also be qualified to participate in his/her project work after the completion of the compulsory programme. On the other hand, these national workshops should as well be properly managed by the government in order to maintain its standard, and to be internationally recognized.

The above programme would enhance the existing quack knowledge of our engineering students thereby making them to become world-class engineers after graduation, rather than the technical impact of the already existing Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (S.I.W.E.S). Even, most students dodge the so-called SIWES or Industrial Training (IT). They prefer indulging in other activity that would fetch them money during the stipulated period for the training. There is also need to revive the SIWES because it shall serve as a worthwhile basis for the compulsory technical programme. The school authorities should endeavour to send delegates from time to time to any firm/industry an IT Student might claim to be, irrespective of the location or distance from the school in question. At this point, the government is also expected to support the institutions financially. It should continually fund the universities/polytechnics in regard to logistics inconveniences.

The compulsory one year engineering training shall be similar to that of the medical/pharmaceutical and law sectors. But the routine shall be a bit different from the law sector because that of the law is elective; that is, if you would like to become, or to be addressed as a practicing lawyer after the completion of your university programme, the choice is yours, unlike that of the medical and pharmaceutical programmes, housemanship and internship respectively.

So, the one-year engineering programme shall be strictly compulsory. Therefore, shall be considered by the government as a prerequisite for any graduating engineering student to participate in the on-going National Youth Service programme.

If the above routine is taken, the incessant problems faced by the engineering students in our various schools will surely belong to the history book. So definitely, the routine (measure) shall serve as a placebo. Think about it!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

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