The 4th Induction Ceremony Lecture of Bells University of Ota, for the Admission into the Engineering Profession of the 2017/2018 Engineering graduates was titled:’Opportunity of a weak economy for the young engineer’ and was delivered by Engineer Titi Omo-Ettu, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(FAEng). It drew a standing ovation because of its thought-provoking and rich content as well as its excellent delivery.
In his address, the wave-making Vice Chancellor, Prof.Jeremiah Ojediran commended the efforts of the College for always hosting the annual ceremony with the best brains as the guest lecturer; to deliver the inspiring lectures. He rejoiced with the students, who, in his opinion have literally passed through the mill and coming out brighter and better. Indeed, they are now well positioned to be their own bosses.
In that regard, they should see themselves as solution providers to the myriad of infrastructural and economic challenges bedeviling the nation. Good enough, this falls in tandem with the University’s Mission Statement, which in part states that it was established “to discover, disseminate and apply the knowledge of Science and Engineering for human well-being and the development of society”.
He therefore, enjoined them not to be satisfied with what exists but to challenge the status quo. They have to look at materials and upgrade their functionality. He felt delighted that the topic is germane to the government’s policy thrust for economic diversification. The graduands should strive not just to survive but excel at whatever they do and wherever they find themselves.
In his lecture, Ettu first decided to rework the title to read as: “Engineers as TOTAL SOLUTION PROVIDERS in the emerging knowledge and Information Age.” He highlighted a fundamental difference between the early-‘70s when he left school and now. In his own time the world was going through an Industrial Age but currently it has moved to the Knowledge Age. He finds more convenient and realistic to look at Nigeria’s weak economy rather than the recession.
Nigerians should realize that if what we did back in the 70s is what we still do now then “we must accept that our problem has no solution”. In defining the profession some words such as mathematics, build, design, innovate, invent, processes, research science and systems keep popping up. But what is significant is that, “engineering is solution provision, provided you have applied a trained scientific mind.”
Essentially, engineers are infrastructure providers and managers. “Today’s engineer looks right, sees a human problem, develops solution to it and sells his/her solution to the highest bidder who he must also find.”
His candid advice is encapsulated in what he calls,”10 THINGS”. Young engineers should accept responsibility that they are the solution providers of today, must read widely, train continuously and be a Jack (and even Jill) of many trades. Sustainable pragmatic partnership is what he is talking about.
To make this effective, they should work in teams. They should see their environment as their constituency, communicate effectively, be fair and ethical and learn to choose wisely.
. As an erudite scholar he gave an assignment to the new engineers, and that is to BUILD BIG PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING BUSINESSES as only that will take Nigeria out of the ignoble pit of poverty.
Baje is the Media Consultant to the University.