Engineers sensitise students on benefits of profession

“AN engineer is a problem-solver. The advancement of any nation’s economy requires the role the engineers.”

These were the words of the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Apapa branch, Ola Taiwo, during a career talk at the Ogun State Institute of Technology Igbesa, Ogun State being part of the school’s 2015 Students’ Week celebration.

Speaking on the topic: “The Importance of Engineering Study in the Present Economy”, Taiwo said that the study of engineering is key and the bedrock for the advancement of the economy of any serious nation.

Explaining the study as “the application of scientific knowledge for the sole purpose of solving human problems”, the NSE Apapa chairman noted that the world is conducive for dwelling as a result of the impact of the profession and the professionals on it.

Addressing the students, too, the immediate past chairman of the branch, Ibrahim Aledu, stated that the benefits of the profession on man could not be over-emphasised. “When you look around you will see and appreciate the fact that God is the greatest engineer.”

He further buttressed the impact of the profession, noting that before now, students used handouts and textbooks for research works, but at present, assignments are done surfing through the Internet.

He pointed out, too, that the days of writing letters and posting were gone, adding, “with your phone, you can make a call to any continent and so many great things are presently being enjoyed such as the cashless system, which has been made possible with the use of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) machines. They are all as a result of engineering inventions and innovations.”

The chairman, however, explained the process of becoming a corporate member of the society. He stated that the university graduate, after completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, can apply for membership after he must have satisfied the requisite criteria as report writing, projects carried-out and the examination. But for the polytechnic graduate, “he would go further to obtain Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) certificate in the same engineering field before the report writing and examination,” he said.

Delivering another lecture entitled: “The Importance of Science in the Present Economy”, Sewanu Bankole, said “science is about ‘how’ and ‘why’, noting that without science, the engineer would not function effectively and efficiently.

Meanwhile, the Apapa members of the NSE took a tour of Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ikeja Plant, where they were taken through the processes that the products of the company undergo before they are healthy for consumption.