Engineering as an academic discipline, is the bedrock of technology. It will be safe to say that the 21st century has seen a significant increase in the number of engineers in Nigeria. However, the productivity of these engineers often falls short of expectations.
I have a close friend who is also an engineering student in the university i graduated from and he frequently emphasizes the importance of an improved system that produces engineering graduates with strong technical know-how-to in their respective fields of study.
This article came to mind when I found myself in a lecture hall designed to accommodate 500 students at a time, yet it was overcrowded with over a thousand students. This issue is not limited to lecture halls; even laboratories meant for practical learning are overcrowded, making it difficult for engineering students to effectively engage in hands-on experiments.
In Nigerian institutions, I regret to say, many engineering students suffer from poor learning facilities and ineffective teaching, largely due to the overpopulation in engineering programs.
Personally, I have learned more about the practical aspects of my course of study outside the university walls than in the actual classroom.
It is crucial we embrace the fact that the world we are heading towards presents complex problems that require solutions from engineers who possess in-depth technical knowledge in their respective disciplines. If we are genuinely prepared to thrive in this imminent world, we must limit the number of students admitted annually into engineering faculties and make it similar to the practices in medical colleges and occasionally in schools of law.
While regulatory bodies like The council for the regulation of engineering practices in Nigeria (COREN) exist to oversee engineering practices, starting the regulation process right from the admission procedures into universities would greatly contribute to addressing this issue. It would provide admitted students with access to the necessary practical resources and pave the way for effective learning.
In conclusion, as a prospective engineer, student leader and a proud citizen of this great nation, I wholeheartedly embrace the mantra of “tomorrow will always be better.” With this boundless optimism, I implore those at the helm of affairs to earnestly consider the aforementioned facts and take immediate action to preserve the practice of engineering for future generations.
By so doing, we will elevate ourselves to compete on par with saner climes in cultivating a highly skilled cadre of engineering graduates and professionals. Together, let us forge a path towards a brighter future where our nation thrives as a global leader in engineering excellence.
Comr. Fahad Abdullahi Ibrahim a 3rd year undergraduate of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and NUESA ATBU CTC Chairman, 2023 wriites via fahadbnabdullahi123@gmail.com
