YABATECH Don Seeks Reform of Mechanical Engineering Programme

Funmi Ogundare A lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Technology, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Idiat Amusu, has called for the restructuring of the Mechanical Engineering programme to include computer-aided manufacturing Reverse Engineering (RE) as a course, saying that it should be backed-up with appropriate equipment and relevant training of staff.

Delivering the eighth inaugural lecture of the college titled, ‘Reverse Engineering: Panacea to Waste not, Want not’, recently, Amusu stressed the need for a technological change and innovation to lay a foundation for the development of a silicon valley in the college.

“For effectiveness, this should be backed up with appropriate equipment and relevant training of staff so that RE will be ingrained on the student upon graduation.”

She also advocated for collaboration between the college and the chamber of commerce to create access of technology development to clusters and consequently lead to rapid development of the metal fabrication and manufacturing industries.

The don also stressed the need for the government, the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other stakeholders work together to revitalise the technical education programme designed for secondary and technical colleges, as well as the tertiary institutions in order to create a sound foundation for the metal fabrication industry which will lead to industry revolution and poverty reduction.

“Government should provide funding for the procurement of adequate and relevant equipment and machinery for all institutional technical workshops and laboratories. This will enhance the teach- ing and learning of technical vocational and engineering.”

Amusu stressed the need for teachers of technical courses to engage students in engineering solving activities, adding that teachers in tertiary institutions should also be encouraged to undergo trainings in the methods and techniques in order to make the study of engineering easier.