Mechanical engineers crucial in solving Nigeria's multi-sectoral problems -Senator Omisore

Mechanical engineers crucial in solving Nigeria’s multi-sectoral problems -Senator Omisore

Femi OGUNLANA

Former Osun state Deputy Governor Senator Engr Iyiola Omisore has noted that mechanical engineers are crucial in the efforts to reinvent Nigeria and bail it out of its multi-sectoral problems.

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Senator Omisore made this observation at the 15th and 2024 Annual Mechanical Engineers Distinguished Lecture (MEDL) of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers held recently in Abuja.

Speaking on the topic, “Imperative Mechanical Engineering Strategies for socio-economic development based on national budget, challenges and potentials,” he pointed out that engineering with its diverse disciplines is wired for problem-solving, and as such emphasized mechanical engineering particularly has a significant role to play in achieving the goal of government and society bordering on growth and development in a sustainable way.

He said, “The engineer is familiar with the route of moving from Problem Identification, to Generation of Probable Solutions, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation, such design process is equally relevant in addressing the current discourse. We must walk the talk as the Engineers-in-Society, in providing viable and effective strategies.”

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The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations asserted that in the face of the numerous socio-economic challenges assailing the country such as poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and environmental degradation among others, “mechanical engineering solutions are urgently required.”

He further submitted, “It is therefore necessary to navigate viable engineering solutions, particularly in the field of mechanical engineering in addressing a myriad of problems. Other challenges facing the country, where the mechanical engineers would greatly impact the society, are in the areas of healthcare challenges, the increasing need for quality education, security challenges, etc.”

Highlighting Nigeria’s budget provisions, he listed oil and gas, and non-oil sources including taxes, customs, VAT and other levies, in addition to privatization proceeds and facilitation of supportive loans, as sources of revenue for funding the national budget, and therefore advocated mechanical engineers need to deploy strategies to “transform the available resources into economic products, resting on the various aspects of the profession, namely: Controls and Robotics, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Systems, Mechanics of Materials, Renewable Energy and Environmental Flows, Computational Engineering. Automotive Design. Machine Design and Development, Mechatronics, Robotics, Combustion Engineering, etc.”

This is as he stated, “It is also important to review the non-oil natural and agricultural resources as potential feedstocks for the engineering innovations.”

Omisore consequently rapped the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to address the highlighted challenges focusing on among others energy and power generation to meet Nigeria’s “growing energy demands.”

He challenged his colleagues to develop ways of harnessing renewable energy alternatives.

“This initiative is actually necessary in more fields and industries,” he noted. “The mechanical engineers are required, in the coming years to develop a wide range of solar solutions: portable and in-built solar systems from solar powered devices, to solar-generators as well as the well-known PV-systems. We may engage in such project directly, or motivate the younger generation in developing innovative solutions.”

He also said, “The imminent gas-economy of the nation has been a major driver of innovations in automotive engineering, with the heightened interest in CNG-driven automobiles, gas turbines for power generation, and the harnessing of power focusing flare-gas fired sterling engine. All these are in addition to the conventional assignment of the mechanical engineering in design and maintenance of the existing energy generation, transmission and distribution systems. The student of engineering, the pupil engineers and the consulting experts must proactively carve out the significant trajectories towards achieving the anticipated goals of national socio-economic development.”

The former national secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC emphasized the need to amplify the growth of the oil and gas industry, remarking, “It is imperative that clear and well thought-out strategies must be put in place for maximum benefits in the industry. The government must be stirred toward public investment in necessary infrastructures, like the design and maintenance of pressurized transportation vessels, rail lines, drilling facilities, and including conveyance vehicles. The young engineers must be systematically equipped to understanding in the theory and practical skill in the development of the structure, safety requirements. This should in turn inform the dynamics of engineering education, increase awareness on safe handling and safety concerns in the use of domestic gas cylinders.”

Senator Omisore who spoke with much conviction stressed the need to also ramp up local production in sectors such as automobiles and aircrafts, investments in infrastructures and healthcare covering areas like development and deployment of locally-produced essential biomedical equipment and instruments and robotics and artificial intelligence, concluding, “Nigeria has tremendous potential for socio-economic development, but it needs to address its challenges and seize its opportunities to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. While the anticipated budget is not unattainable, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers surely has huge role to play, deploying all of its specializations in wheeling the country to the desired destination.”