By Franklin Onwubiko
In an exciting development, the Unizik Business School, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has begun the implementation of the second phase of its £100,000 Grant from the Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom. The project focuses on research in the field of electrical engineering and aims to enhance the employability and entrepreneurial impact of Nigerian graduate engineers in the electricity industry. The grant was awarded by the Higher Education Partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa (HEP SSA) 22/24 Programme.
The training sessions for the selected 50 students, who originate from five tertiary institutions in Southeast Nigeria, took place at the Unizik Business School. It is important to note that the first phase of the project was conducted on December 2, 2022.
Mrs. Kirsty Chishti, the Programme Officer for Africa Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering, addressed the participants via Zoom and highlighted the objective of the project. She emphasized the need to address the engineering capacity gaps in sub-Saharan Africa, including a shortage of skilled engineers, a brain drain to other countries, weak engineering institutions, and low investment levels and national standards. Chishti also recognized the significant role engineers play in combating the climate crisis and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, the Team Lead and Deputy Director of the Unizik Business School, in his remarks to the participants, stressed the importance of the training and urging them to conduct themselves professionally throughout the six-day program. He expressed gratitude to the Royal Academy of Engineering, the United Kingdom, and other project partners such as Nottingham Trent University, V-lab Limited, Nigerian Higher Education, and Industry and professional partners.
Prof. Onyeizugbe highlighted the issue of unreliable public power supply in Nigeria and its negative impact on businesses and society. He explained how the project aims to address this problem by improving engineering capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, enhancing the knowledge and skills of African engineering graduates, promoting research and innovation, and fostering connections with industry for greater impact.
It is worth mentioning that the Nnamdi Azikiwe University is one of only six universities in Africa to have received this grant, with Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe leading the project alongside Engr. Ugochukwu Ifediora, CEO/MD of Fedironics Group. The second phase of the project is expected to involve experts such as Prof. Amin Al-Habaibeh, Director of the Product Innovation Center (PIC) and Head of the iSBET Research Group at Nottingham Trent University, as well as Engr. Proveen Chorghad, MD-CEO of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).