Faculty of Engineering, COOU, plans big for Nigeria's economy diversification at its 4th Int'l Conference

By Uchenna Johnson

Uli- It promises to be a harvest of intellectual celebrations and thanksgiving as the Faculty of Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli holds its 4^th International Conference on Engineering Adaptation and Policy Reforms for Industrial Development (ICEAPR).

The fourth in the series, the upcoming academic event has as its theme, “Nigeria beyond Oil: the Role of Engineers”.

The Dean of the Faculty, Engr Dr John Atuchukwu disclosed this in a Press Conference at the Faculty Office, Uli Campus, to mark the upcoming conference.

Engr Atuchukwu said through such conferences, the Faculty pursues expansion in all frontiers of learning with the aim of becoming one of the leading centres of teaching, learning and research in Engineering in the country.

According to him, “The first (ICEAPR) with the theme: ‘Engineering Policy for sustainable industrial & Economic Development of Nigeria’ was organized by the Faculty in 2012 in the then Anambra State University which was initiated by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fidelis U. Okafor. It was aimed at igniting research interests in the Faculty of Engineering in particular and the University at large.

In 2014, we had our second (ICEAPR) with the theme ‘Harnessing Engineering Potentials to Address Energy, Environmental and Security challenges’ and it looked to promote research and scholarly interaction among the University communities, other academic and research institutions and the industrial sector. This was to serve as a prelude to the 3rd (ICEAPR) tagged ‘Engineering Practice For sustainable Economic Recovery’ organized in May 2017”.

The Faculty Dean explained that the 4th International Conference (ICEAPR 2019) is designed to further ignite interest amongst Engineers in researching on alternatives to oil, adding that the positive impact of the previous conferences speak volumes of the laudable objectives of the conferences and foresight/visionary qualities of past and present Vice Chancellors in taking the University to the next level.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the event, Engr Dr Akinpelu Babayemi observed that most of the socio-economic problems confronting Nigeria today centre around oil, adding that the major focus of the conference is to find solution and develop strategies towards achieving the much-talked about diversification of the economy.

Engr Babayemi who is the Head of Chemical Engineering Department of the University, identified Engineers as pivotal in the new dimension, hence the decision of the Faculty to lead the conversation that will drive the diversification move.

Engr Dr JohnPaul Iloh, the Secretary of the LOC, and Head of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department revealed that the event is scheduled to hold from Tuesday the 5^th to Wednesday the 6^th of November, 2019 at Faculty of Engineering Auditorium, COOU, Uli Campus, under the distinguished chairmanship of Engr Dr Patrick Obi, Fellow Nigeria Society of Engineers, deputy dean, Faculty of Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia State.

He said very eminent Nigerians and experts in the diversification drive have been confirmed to lead discussions at the upcoming conference notable of who are Engr Barth Nwibe, GMD Segofs EnergyServices Limited, Portharcourt, Rivers State and Hon Engr Chris Azubogu, Member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Constituency in the National Assembly.

“Among the expected participants at the conference would be students and scholars from our institution and from other tertiary institutions within and outside the country. We will also have paper presentations from a Malaysian scholar among others. Overall, what we intend to achieve through this fourth edition of our International Conferences, is to engender a paradigm shift from our total dependence on Oil. The researches that will accrue from this academic event, when completed, will make this change a whole lot easier and it will be a great honour that such feat will be attributed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

The LOC Secretary expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Greg Nwakoby for his unquantifiable support and encouragement, which he noted, has been instrumental to the numerous laudable feats achieved by the Faculty in the Engineering discipline.

The event is expected to kickoff each day by 10 am.