NAE president, Maduka wants students to show greater interest in engineering courses

President of Nigeria Academy of Engineering (NAE), Joanna Maduka, wants Nigerian students to show greater interest in studying engineering courses at higher institutions, insisting that therein lies the key to unlocking the country’s future.

Speaking at the 19th Founder’s Day Anniversary/Prize Giving Ceremony of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, the seasoned engineer stated that the importance of studying engineering courses were enormous when it comes to national development.

According to the guest speaker: “The future of any country depends on engineering and technology; it doesn’t depend only on law or accounting because if you talk of oil and gas, mineral resources, road construction, treatment of water, it is engineering and technology graduates that would handle those. I will appeal to some of you to buy into engineering, though it is difficult. You must be good in mathematics and physics. If you want to do chemical engineering, you must be good in chemistry. You will find out that if you study engineering, you will be a better accountant or lawyer because a course in engineering prepares you for all fields.”

Principal of the school, Mrs Olawunmi Togonu-Bickersteth, highlited some of the achievements of the students during the last session.

According to her, “Our erstwhile Head Girl, Moka Cynthia,  gained admission to Baylor University, Texas with a scholarship award of $50, 000; Serena Omo-Lamai, a former student of the school was granted admission into 13  universities abroad, but settled for one of them, with a scholarship of $5, 300 per session, while the deputy head girl and 2016 valedictorian, launched her book, Insights: Nuggets of Excellence for Teenagers, in June this year.

In his sermon, the guest preacher, Pastor Remi Morgan, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Laterna Ventures Limited, advised the students to strive for excellence at all times.

According to him, ‘excellence is not a destination, but an attitude.

Scholarships were also given to deserving students.