From Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan
The Chief Executive Officer of Buff-I Limited and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Dr Anthony Adeniji, has called on young engineers to prioritise internships for sustainability in the engineering industry.

Adeniji made the call during the 2023/24 NSE graduates induction programme held at the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan. The scholar stressed the significance of rudimentary training, emphasising that internship exposes graduate engineers to real-world problems in different fields of engineering.

He explained that practical field experiences would birth new ideas, adding that learning engineering management and balance between theory and practice becomes a subject through an internship.

“Being a volunteer in engineering companies and industries is a sure plug for skills and practical learning. You must add value to your first degree by acquiring practical technical skills. No employer will absorb anyone who will not add to the profit chain of their business. Skills, knowledge and a solution mindset should be the focus in working in any engineering firm, industry or organisation”, Adeniji said.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Engineering Theory to Praxis: Expectations from Young Engineers in Solving Real World Problems’, he charged the young engineers with the need to focus on solving engineering problems, including problems relating to energy, automobile, building and construction, engineering management, waste management and engineering pollution for a better competitive societal environment.

Adeniji decried the quest for quick money and fixes by youths. He said: “I have made my research into why youths drive for digital monetary mechanisms, including cryptocurrency and Binance among youths of this age instead of internship; let me tell you our Gen Zs, this may not be sustainable as government policy can crash it.’’

“A single policy of government can make everyone bankrupt on those money platforms, but for engineering, government policy is for sustainability.

“To this end, I am enthused to reiterate that the University of Ibadan under the enigmatic leadership of Professor Kayode Adebowale, the Vice-Chancellor and the Dean of Faculty of Engineering (Prof. A.I. Bamgboye) has built you well for a better future in engineering and technology. You must focus on the area of solving engineering problems, problems in energy, problems in automobiles, problems in highway construction, problems in building and construction, problems in engineering management, problems in waste management, problems in mining, and problems in engineering pollution and gas flaring”, he said.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Kayode Adebowale, charged the new 269 UI engineering inductees to remain good ambassadors of the institution and Nigeria everywhere they find themselves.