Africa needs engineering
competences in problem solving, design and analytical thinking to overcome its
socio-economic development challenges, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
said.
“In many parts of Africa, young
engineers have not been trained for specific roles in the industry.
“We have to teach them to convert
the technical knowledge acquired into useful artefacts needed in the
industry,’’ Obasanjo said at the opening of the 3rd African Engineering Deans
Council (AEDC) summit on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the summit held at the Covenant University, Ota in Ogun.
The former president delivered a
keynote address at the summit which had the theme: “Engineering for
Socio-Economic Development in Africa’’.
Obasanjo said that young
engineers should also learn how to transform manufactured products into viable
business ventures.
“Let us have more engineer
entrepreneurs rather than engineer job seekers,’’ he urged.
According to him, the engineering
curriculum of the 20th century is no longer sufficient to address the
engineering challenges of the 21st century.
“UNESCO recognises the need to
reform engineering education and support research to establish a baseline
overview of existing best practices in engineering education in sub-Saharan
Africa with special focus on student-centred learning,’’ he said.
He said that the emphasis on
personal and professional attitudes by industries indicated that engineers were
not only expected to be technically proficient but also to know how to behave
and operate within an organisation.
“In the time past, Africa carved
an enviable niche for itself in the field of textile, maritime technology,
architecture, medicine, telecommunications, commerce, warfare and others, where
are we today?
“Let me reiterate that my aim here is neither
to romanticise the past nor bemoan it, but to use the past to help our present
and inspire our future in socio-economic growth,” he said.
He called for more interaction
between industries and universities to promote innovation and facilitate
absorption of graduates by industries.
The former president said that
such a relationship had become a subject of great interest to even policy makers.
“It will engender improvement and
innovation in industry and help to ensure relevance in academic training and
research,’’ he said.
Obasanjo, however, hailed African
countries for embracing technology as a driver of development.
He lauded the Chancellor of
Covenant University, Dr David Oyedepo, for vision and support for development
of humanity.
Obasanjo said that Oyedepo
remained a true believer in the Africa project.
In his remarks, Oyedepo praised
the council for organising the summit and for efforts so far in seeking
solutions to challenges to socio-economic growth of Africa.
He said that he looked forward to
seeing innovations by the council that would tackle a greater part of
challenges facing humanity.
The President of Guinea, who is
also the President of the African Union (AU), Prof. Alpha Conde, called for a
paradigm shift from the 20th century engineering to the 21st century
engineering to facilitate Africa’s development.
Conde, represented by a Cabinet Minister in Guinea, Mr Alpha Amadou Barry, said that the continent would move forward through science and technology.
Conde, represented by a Cabinet Minister in Guinea, Mr Alpha Amadou Barry, said that the continent would move forward through science and technology.
“Do not ask what Africa can do
for you; rather, think of what you can do for Africa,” Conde urged.
NAN
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