PROCEEDINGS

TH
5
ENGINEERING FORUM

Theme
DEPRESSED ECONOMY:
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING,
THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC,
ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE,
NIGERIA.

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

©School of Engineering
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
Nigeria

9th – 12th November, 2009

Warning
This proceedings is sold with the condition that it shall not by way of trade or
otherwise resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent, in any
form of binding or cover other than that in which it is purchased without a similar
condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISSN: 1974 – 9005

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

Table of contents

Title page i
Table of Contents iii-v
Conference Committee vi
Chairman Engineering Forum LOC Opening Address vii-viii
Dean School of Engineering Welcome Address ix-x
Lead paper presented by Engr. D. H. Oladebeye xi-xxi
List of papers presented 1- 297

No Title of Paper Author(s) Name Page

001 Options to limiting impact of gari production on the water Adeoti, O. 1-5
resource of Nigeria.
002 Application of Information and Telecommunication Momoh, J.J 6-16
Technologies (ICTs) in Nigeria Engineering Education
003 Laboratory Investigation Into Corrosion Behaviours Of Shuaib 17-25
Commercial Mild Steel In Ilorin (Nigeria) Municipal Tap Babata, Y. L
Water From Asa And Agba Dams Alabi, A.G.F
004 Enhancing Mechanical Structural Analysis Course using Momoh, J.J 26-31
MESTAN 321 Model for 2D Plane Truss Analysis Ajueyitsi,O.N.A
005 Amelioration of Economic Depression Through Effective Alake, T.J 32-38
Telecommunication Iji, A. B
Osho, S.O
006 Application of Facts Devices to Alleviate Power System Mojibola O.G 39-44
Problem
007 Application Of Gis As A Decision Support Tool For Akinbinu V. A 45-49
Facility Knowledge Management In Mining Industry
008 Energy Conservation: A tool for solving Energy Problems Agbanigo, A.O 50-53
Oladapo, E.O.J
009 Design & Fabrication of Rice Dehuller Oyedele o 54-58
Oyewole B A
Elegbeleye, K E
010 Exploiting Gold Mining for Local Economic Development Akinbinu V. A 59-64
in a Depressed Economy
011 Effective Water Resources Management as a Panacea for Oloruntade, A. J 65-71
Climate Change Problems in Nigeria Philip. G. O
012 Satellite Communication System: A Gateway To Nigerian Alake,T. J 72-77
Development In A Depressed Economy Iji, B
013 Energy Demand And Supply In Nigeria Adebanji B 78-82
A Ten Years Projection ( 2008 – 2018) Olulope P.K
Okafor C.E
014 Inhibiting Effect Of Ammonia-Water Solution On The Shuaib 83-89
Corrosivity Of Commercial Mild Steel In Cassava Extract Babata, Y. L
Medium (Juice) Alabi, A.G.F
015 Energy Supply And Management In A Depressed Adebanji B 90-94
Economy-Nigeria A Case Study Abe A.
Fashina E.T.
iii
016 Information Technology Innovation in Agriculture and the Oyewole, B.A 95-97
Need for Adult Education among Rural Farmers in Nigeria.
017 Optimisation of Production Units of a Foundry Shop using Ejiko S.O
Linear Programming Ukachi, P 98-101
Ajewole, P.O
018 Entrepreneurship And Engineering: Balogun, A.L. 102-104
The Way Out Of The Nation’s Economic Crisis Olanrewaju, T.O.
019 Issues and Challenges of Power Sector Reform in a Oni, D. O 105-110
Depressed Economy
020 Agricultural Engineering Entrepreneurship: The way out of K. I. Bello 111-113
the Nation’s Economic Crisis.
021 The Roles Of Transportation Engineering Industries Oluwasola, E.A
Towards Industrial Development Olulope, O.R 114-121
Ogunsola, A.O
022 Engineering Entrepreneurship: Addressing The Depressed Oladebeye, D.H.
Nigerian Economy Omidiji, B.V. 122-129
Ajaino, K. O.
023 Using small- scale mining approach to grow the mining Adebimpe, R.A 130-134
sector in Nigeria
024 Review Of Theories, Models Findings And Adeosun, E.O
Recommendations For Effective Water Resources 135-138
Management In Meeting The Vision 2020
025 Development of a Multiple Regression Model in Ejiko, S.O 139-145
Determining Machine Tool Sensitivity Oladebeye, D.H
Oyedele, O.A
026 Hunger in Nigeria: Why and Proposed Solution Oyedele, O. A 146-150
027 Training of Agricultural Machinery Operators and Ladeinde, M. A
Mechanics in Nigeria: AMMTRAC Perspective Atanda, E.O 151-156
Ageh, A.J
028 The Effect of Deregulation on Vehicle Fuel System Ejiko, S. O
Components Purchased Before and after its Maliki, O. B 157-162
Implementation from 2000 to 2007 Adelegan, G. O
029 Effect of Salt & garlic Treatments on Meat Processing Oyewole B A
Agun B J 163-167
Adeoti O
030 Opportunities & Challenges of Renewable Energy Sources Ademiloye, I. B
in a Depressed Economy. Akinsanya,O.A 168-172
Ogunlowo,M
031 Challenges & Opportunities of Power Sector Reform in a Ojo, A. J
Depressed Economy Akinsanya, O. A 173-177
Yusuf, B. M
032 Towards a Historical Model for the Teaching of Adewale, P. O
Sustainable Architecture in Tropical Countries: The Case Anthony, P 178-182
for Hausa Traditional Architecture
033 Opportunities and Challenges of Solar Power Generation in Yusuf, B. M
a Depressed Economy Akinsanya, O. A 183-186
Ojo, A. J
034 Determination of Force Required to Uproot/harvest Cluster Oloko S A
cassava: A Case Study of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Omotayo K F 187-192
Ekiti Demonstration Farm. Oyedele O A

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035 Biogas Technology & Application in a Depressed Ayelegun, T. A
Economy: Its Challenges & Prospects Oloko, S. A 193-197
Akinola, M. A
036 Design & Fabrication of a Tomato Fruit Drier Uthman, F 198-201
Olanrewju,T.O
037 Agricultural Engineering in the Global Economic Oloko, S..A
Meltdown and National Vision 20/2020: Challenges and Akinola, M.O 202-206
Prospects.
038 Application of Medicine in distressed economy Akingbade K. F 207-212
Okereke, C. O
039 Harnessing Solar Power for Sustainable Electricity in a Ogunlowo M,
Depressed Economy Alake T.J 213-216
Ademiloye, I.B
040 Assessment of Awareness, Attitude and Willingness to Oladebeye, D. H,
Participate in Household Solid Waste Recycling Momoh, J. J, 217-228
Programme in Ado-Ekiti Aladenusi, Y. E
Olaleye, T. O
041 Investigation into Safety Principles & Precautions at Omidiji, B. V
Engineering Construction Sites in Western Nigeria Ajaino, K. O 229-235
Omojokun, S
042 Electro-winning of Zinc from Abakaliki Lead-Zinc Egunlae O.O 236-240
Sulphide ore
043 Treatment of waste sludge from local mineral processing Jimoh, B. O 241-244
plants using HMP as flocculants. Egunlae O.O
044 Assessment of Foundry Slag for Cement Production in Egunlae O.O 245-250
Nigeria
045 Public Housing and users’ Satisfaction: Perspectives on the Adewale, P. O,
Residential Unit of Akufo Farm Settlement, Akufo via Asimi, M. A, 251-257
Ibadan Siyanbola, A. B
Fasasi, M. B
046 Adapting Yam Cultivation to Climate Change a Means of Oladipo, I. O
Mitigating Global Economic Meltdown Effects Adeosun, E.O. 258-262
Omotayo, K. F.
047 Assessment of Nigeria’s Gas Wealth: A Panacea for the Obisesan, P. O 263-268
Nation’s Depressed Economy Jimoh, B. O
048 Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and it’s Okereke, C. O
Prospects in a Depressed Economy (Ekiti-State as a Case Adeoti, O 269-274
Study) Akingbade, K. F
049 An Alternative Income Generation Source: A Look at a Omotayo,K.F 275-279
Small Scale Wagon Wheel Irrigator Oladipo, I.O
050 Development of a Linear Programming Model Onipede A.
(Optimiza®) for Production System Optimization Aluko, F. I 280-290
(Plastic Company in Ibadan as a Case Study) Abere, G. O.
Olowookere
051 Investigation of Water Quality from Small Diameter Wells
(Bore Holes) at Baboko Ward, Ilorin West Local Aminu 291-294
Government Area, Kwara State
052 Impact of Industrial Waste Water Effluents Discharge on 295-297
Physico-Chemical Quality of Asa River in Ilorin West Aminu
Local Government Area of Kwara State (A Case Study)

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
ENGINEERING FORUM LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
ENGR. I. O. OLADIPO Chairman
ENGR. J. J. MOMOH Technical / Production Editor
ENGR. F. I. ALUKO Member
ENGR. K. D OLUBORODE Member
ENGR. (MRS) C. O. OKEREKE Member
MR. C. O. AYODELE Member
MR. O. A. OYEDELE Member
ENGR. P. O. OBISESAN Secretary

EDITORIAL ADVERSARY BOARD

ENGR. I. O, OLADIPO Editor-in- Chief
ENGR. J. J. MOMOH Technical / Production Editor
ENGR. B. J. AGUN Agricultural Engineering
ENGR. K. D. OLUBORODE Civil Engineering
ENGR. O. A. AKINSANYA Electrical / Electronic Engineering
ENGR. T. J. ALAKE Electrical / Electronic Engineering
ENGR. D. H. OLADEBEYE Mechanical Engineering
ENGR. O. N. A. AJUEYITSI Mechanical Engineering
ENGR. DR. F. A. ISIFE Mineral Resources Engineering
ENGR. R. A. ADEBIMPE Mineral Resources Engineering

HOST
MR. O. BALOGUN
DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

CHIEF HOST
MR. M.O. OYETUNJI
AG. RECTOR, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, ADO-EKITI

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

CHAIRMAN ENGINEERING FORUM LOC OPENING ADDRESS

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti,

The Chairman of the Opening Ceremony,
The Principal Officers,
The Dean of Schools,
The Head of Departments,
The Guest Speaker,
The Local Organizing Committee,
Invited Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a pleasure to share my heartfelt abundant joy with you on the occasion of our 5th
Engineering Forum. Yes we will be doing a great disservice to our society and to God
Almighty if we refuse to celebrate this landmark in grand style: Because it is by His Grace
that we are able to navigate the storm of life over the last 5 years
We have been gathering like this not only to dine and wine but to ruminate over and proffer
solutions to challenges bordering on our national coherence and the world stability at large. In
2006 for instance, we looked at our role in the MDG programmes while in 2008, we discussed
climate change and environmental issues. This year our theme is: Economic Depressions:
Engineering and Technology Opportunities. I think we deserve a little appreciation for our
patriotism and nation building efforts at a time when our counterparts were plundering the
nation’s resources.
Like a vapour in the air, that will turn to water if given the right conditions of condensation:
opportunities around us will only become tangible if we meet it with our preparedness and
necessary determination. We all have been adequately informed from folklores and wise
sayings in our society that in every evil, there is a good. –
• The white pap comes from a black pot.
• We see the stars when darkness falls.
• When egg break we can make omelets.
Engineers should generate wealth from waste, we should look for honey in a bee hive, see
fruits and not trees. Even in a funeral, Engineers should supply casket and make money where
others are mourning. Oil deregulation is around the corner, we should refuse to get derailed.
Amidst economic depression we should never submit to depression. Many have become
millionaires by supplying foods to Somalia and providing salt and sugar solution to
Zimbabwe.
This little poem comes readily handy:
Let’s see the light
In our night
Lets get spirit
From our crude
Lets get pork
From our pig
And wine from our ferments
In piece let’s create fun
In war let’s make gun
That way we will focus
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 Always in the way of progress
Let’s be grateful that
Thorns can bear roses
And not to grumble that
Roses have thorns
Let’s cut hills
To fill valleys
And make a level
Of the Rumbles
The lemon on our hands
Is lemonade of a hard look?
Let me quickly intimate you with the efforts we put into the preparation for this conference:
we produced 1000 flyers, 500 posters and distribute to over 50 Institutions across the country.
We mailed via internet same in PDF format to more than 2000 regular author within and
outside Nigeria. That explains the huge response we got and number of (52 to date) of well
researched papers 35% of which comes from Universities, Polytechnics and Research Centers
other than ours. The thorough review by seasoned reviewers did enhance the quality of the
papers up to Journal Standard.
Despite all these, there are many among us who will not share our vision. What an attitude!
(Adage).
I wish to conclude by making a compassionate plea to the Management of The Federal
Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, NBTE, Federal Ministry of Education, ETF and PTDF to please come
to our aid in alienating the burden caused by cost of publication so that we will be able to
achieve our mission to make Engineering Forum a global phenomenon come year 2015.
We once again welcome you to the 5th Engineering Forum. God bless you.

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

DEAN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING WELCOME ADDRESS

MR. OLUFEMI BALOGUN (MNAH, MNMGS, COMEG REG)

The Chairman of the Occasion,

The Chief Host and the Ag. Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Mr. M. O. Oyetunji,
The Entire Principal Officers Present,
Deans of Schools present and ably represented,
All the Heads of Department here present,
The Lead paper presenter, Engr. D. H. Oladebeye,
All Invited Guests,
All Gentlemen of the Press,
All Students here present
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of the Rector and the Entire Polytechnic Community
welcome you to the 5 th Engineering Forum of the School of Engineering, The Federal
Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.
The theme of this year’s Conference is “Depressed Economy: Engineering and Technology
Opportunities”.
Conference “is meeting for discussion and exchange of views”. This Conference is organized
to discuss and exchange views on the theme which is of National and International interest.
Economic depression is known as a situation where a country cannot find her feet in terms of
social, economic, technological and industrial life. As observed by all, the world economy is
currently in a crisis. Nigeria is not left behind in this scenario, since no economy is
particularly insulated due to the interconnectedness of the global economy, except that its
effects and management differ across countries. Engineering as you will agree with me is the
solution to more than ninety percent of the world problems as it applies to all facets of a
Nation’s Economic Development.
Significances of engineering as a profession are immeasurable in making life meaningful and
comfortable to mankind regardless of time and conditions. Engineering is defined as the
knowledge required, and the process applied, to conceive Design, make, Build, operate,
sustain, recycle or retire, something with significant technical content for a specified purpose:
a concept, a model, a product, a device, a process, a system, a service and invariably a
technology.
Engineering and Technology if well harnessed and articulated could serve as panacea for any
depressed economy. In the current wave of Economic meltdown, Engineering and
Technology are like a buoy to keep any serious Nation afloat of the troubled water.
It is believed that Economists have added Technology to the traditional Prime Inputs, to all
Economic activities, labour, capital and materials. It is the Engineering process which credit
Technology.
Engineering is applied in the following areas; Healthcare, Leisure and Entertainment,
Agriculture, Commerce, Communication and Information Technology, Defence and Security,
construction, Energy and Natural Resources Exploitation.
To achieve the vision 2020, Nigerian Engineers must brace up to the challenges to move the
Nation to the next level and preparing the Nation for its actualization. For Nigeria to become
one of the top 20 Economies of the world by year 2020, Engineering and Technology must be
taken seriously.
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I am grateful to God for this day. On behalf of the School of Engineering, I appreciate the
contributions of the Chairman of Council Dr. Gandoje, the Ag. Rector, Elder M. O. Oyetunj,
and the entire Principal Officers of the Polytechnic. . My special thanks go to all the
Committee of Deans and Directors for their immense support. Big thanks go to the Registrar,
Bursar and all the Entire Management under the able leadership of the Rector for approving
today for the Conference and for participating in the opening ceremony despite his tight
schedules.
I am equally grateful to the Chairman of the occasion Engr. B. J. Agun. The Lead Paper
presenter, Engr. D. H. Oladebeye, a member of the Polytechnic family and an Alumnus of the
School for finding time to present the Lead Paper.
Finally, I appreciate the efforts of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the conference
under the leadership of Engr. I. O.Oladipo, the entire staff of School of Engineering and the
Polytechnic Community for their Moral and Spiritual supports.
Almighty God will bless you, provide for your needs and endow you with the wisdom,
knowledge and understanding always.
I wish all of you a fruitful conference and journey mercy while going back.
Thank you for coming and may God bless you all.

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 Proceedings of 5th Engineering Forum
School of Engineering
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

LEAD PAPER PRESENTED BY

Engr. DAYO HEPHZIBAH OLADEBEYE
(M.Eng, MBA,FRHD,
MBA,FRHD, MNIEM, MNIMechE, MNSE, COREN Regd. Engr.)
Director, Olusegun Obasanjo Centre For Engineering Innovation (OOCEI),
The Federal Polytechnic,Ado-Ekiti

CHALLENGES FACING ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

TOWARDS ALLEVIATING NIGERIA’S DEPRESSED ECONOMY

Introduction
Hornby(2006), in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defined the word “depression” as “a period when
there is little economic activity and many people are poor or without jobs”, and also as “ the state of feeling
very sad and without hope.” These definitions, no doubt , describe the situation of the country- Nigeria and that
of her citizen in this period of longish economic depression.

Brief Historical Background of Nigeria’s Economic Woes

It may be recalled that this economic depression of our time in Nigeria dates to as far back as the late 1970’s
during the military era. One could remember vividly that sometime before the late Head of State General Murtala
Mohammed, who was assassinated on February 13,1976, took over the reins of power from retired General
Yakubu Gowon (1966-1975), with the then Brigadier (Rtd) Mobolaji Johnson in Lagos State, Brigadier Oluwole
Rotimi in the defunct Western State, Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia in the defunct Mid-Western State etc as
Military Governors , most of the governors in Nigeria serving in that regime were alleged to be very corrupt;
though it was denied severally . That was when the then Head of State was quoted as saying that the problem
with Nigeria was not that of money but how to spend it. Not sooner than that period when the economic tale of
woes of Nigeria began to unfold. Successive military government of retired General Olusegun Obasanjo did not
change the situation. After he “did well” by willingly handing-over power to the First Executive Civilian
President Shehu Shagari (October 1,1979-December 31,1983), the economy became worse still, defying all
solutions. (However,it is to be noted that things were still manageably and relatively “fine” that time compared to
the situation of things with the economy now in 2009).
Then, in 1986 the Military Government headed by retired General Ibrahim Babangida, ostensibly in a bid to turn
the economy around within a very short period, introduced what he called the Structural Adjustment Programme
(SAP) in Nigeria. The sing-song then was that we, as a nation, could not afford to continue to post-pone the evil
day. (There we, as a country, went head-long into the evils of those days and here we are, still “wantonly-
rollicking” in that evil as it were. The Bible says, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” Matthew Chapter 6
verse 34. Due apology to the one and only EVIL GENIUS!)
When the proponent was asked about the likely implication of this proposed programme on the Nigerian
economy, we were further confronted with the fact that goods being bought for N1 then would thenceforth cost
N6. Most people lambasted that programme as such that would never see the light of the day in Nigeria. Then,
US $1 was still exchanging for about N1.80. (Before that time it was US $1 to about N0.80. The expectation of
every young graduate then was to, as soon as finishing the NYSC programme, secure a job (even in civil service)
and within 6 months of employment, procure a new (not Tokunbo) “Tear-rubber” car. Today, it can take a
young graduate in civil service employment (if care is not taken) even more than 6 months to be able to rent a
two-bedroom flat when he will have to pay one year rent in advance. Within the twinkle of an eye, lo and behold
that SAP commenced. Government then was of the view to run the programme for just few years in order to
salvage (or call back) the Nigerian Economy which was already assuming the downward trend. No thanks to the
First and Second Republic the Military had painstakingly allowed to run from October 1,1979 to December 31,
1983 before thel latter sacked the former for reason of wanton corruption and destruction of the economy,
amongst other reasons. The successive Military governments did not do better than the Civilians of the earliest
republics. The trend of the economy gradually and geometrically waned from an exchange rate of US $1 to N6
in 1986 to US $1 to about N 150 today.

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Highlights of Global Economic Depression
According to Oludare (2009), economic depression is a downturn in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a
nation for at least two successive quarters, i.e six months. If the GDP of a country drops by at least 10 per cent
then this can be classed as a depression. It is a world- wide phenomenon which plagues every nation of the
world; it has rattled markets and economies around the globe and its duration is very unpredictable. It is more
pronounced in some countries than others. Because of its universal impact and uncertainty, the crisis has
continued to dominate national and international economic discourse; and world political leaders and ordinary
citizens now share concern about it. It had become such an issue that quite a number of studies and reports have
been documented to address.
The economic crisis that started in the United States of America (USA) in late 2008 has since become a major
concern for political leaders, economists, engineers and managers of financial institutions around the globe as its
impact has gone beyond the borders of the USA. Analysts have noted, in The New York Times (2008),
numerous causes of economic depression to include:
- excessive corrupt practices, particularly the ‘Sub-prime mortgage lending’ that led to high mortgage
default and delinquency rates in the United States as shown in Fig. 2 below.
- the “hands-off approach to regulation” of George W. Bush (or greed and unregulated capitalism)
- massive funding of the “war on terrorism,” and erroneous belief that “free market” principle is perfect,
fair and efficient.
Others have observed that ‘financial instability’ is caused largely by inconsistent monetary and fiscal policy,
politicians spending and borrowing excessively, inconsistent and unsustainable macro-economic policy, weak
financial systems and institutions, and poor structure of international financial markets (Eichengreen 2004).
Corruption is responsible in large measure for the broken promises, the dashed hopes and the shallow dreams
that have characterised the lives of many Nigerians (Nigerian Tribune, 2009). It was pointed out that Nigeria lost
over N36 trillion to corruption since independence in 1960, a phenomenon which has held back economic
growth and development and frustrated incentives to align budgetary allocations with development priorities in
Nigeria since that time.

Source: http://mwhodges.home.att.net/
Fig 1: America has a total debt of $53 trillion and the highest debt ratio in history $175,154 per man, woman and
child or $700,616 per family of four

xii
Fig. 2: High Mortgage Default and Delinquency Rates in the United States of America

The global economic depression has slowed down activities around the world as it has affected productivity,
engineering operations and investments by way of reducing domestic and international demand for goods and
services. It has pushed up unemployment as many industries and organizations are shedding off workers; it has
also affected global oil prices, exchange and interest rates, and national income and budgets. As economies are
falling like dominoes, political leaders and managers of financial institutions are scrambling for strategies to
alleviate its impacts on their domestic markets.
Engineering, as a profession, should not be left out in finding a lasting solution to this global turmoil. It has been
observed by the author that any nations with power of engineering innovation and entrepreneurship are expected
to recover from the economic chaos faster than others.
Nigeria is not lacking in human and natural resources, one could argue that. Nigeria’s “development failures,”
like those in many other developing nations, would be attributed to “institutional failures and not lack of [human
and natural] resources” (Sachs, 2003). Nigeria cannot compete in the global marketplace if it cannot educate her
citizens. High engineering innovation and entrepreneurship will boost a nation’s economic growth and the
economic health of a nation lies in the quality of its education and the engineering innovator and entrepreneurs.
To recover quickly from the economic meltdown and prevent the crisis from degenerating into social crisis,
Nigeria must fix its rickety institutions and infrastructure and strengthen other basic market institutions (Rogoff,
2003) and increase engineering innovation and entrepreneurship (produce enough good quality goods and
services for domestic consumption and extra for export). Without supportive structures for investment and
economic activities and without implementing appropriate growth strategies and increasing engineering
innovation and entrepreneurship, economic prosperity will continue to elude Nigeria.
Nigeria has abundant human and mineral resources but lacks leaders (and individuals) with wealth-creating
mentality. Many Nigerians are rich without producing or inventing anything. But most of the entrepreneurs in
advanced societies have innovative ideas; they are always trying new things or engaged in what could be termed
“creative destruction.” In the process, they create new goods and services and employment. Innovation has been
noted as among the core drivers of growth, performance, and values in government and industries. To accelerate
its pace of development and compete effectively in today’s knowledge-driven global economy, it is imperative
for Nigeria to build enduring institutions and effective “change agent teams” (Barsh, 2007). The “change agents”
would implement new processes, train employees on new procedures, and demonstrate new and better ways of
doing things. (Arrata, et al., 2007).

Engineering and Technology as an Indicator for Economic Development

In most Third World countries, governments are criticized for paying no more than lip service to the need for
accelerated growth without actually harnessing the abilities of their own citizens for the much-needed
technological emancipation.
This presentation is offered as a little contribution to the search for ways to harness indigenous engineering
capabilities. Specifically, it is an in-depth search of the social factors that influence the translation of new
technologies into entrepreneurship and economic gain for the overall well-being of the people.
Significances of engineering as a profession are immeasurable in making life meaningful and comfortable to
mankind regardless of time and conditions. While Science may be defined, according to Ehindero (1999), as
implying critically-tested knowledge ascertained by observation and experimentation resulting in the
development of general principles,Ogunlowo et al (2004) had defined Technology as the application of scientific

xiii
knowledge to the solution of specific problems. Jaji(1999) also opined that Technology is the practical
application of science and mathematical principles for human conveniences.
Doherty, a past president of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, has defined Engineering as the art, based
primarily upon training in mathematical and physical sciences, of utilizing economically the forces and materials
of nature for the benefit of man (Orangun, 2003). The USA Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology
also states that “ Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences
gained by study, experience, practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically the
materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. Akanbi and Oke (2003) described Engineering as a
professional field that deals with the design of structures, processes, circuit, mechanisms, production,
environments, or systems of men and machine.
Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) revealed that engineering can be practiced in form
of consultation, invention, discovery, valuation, research and teaching in recognized engineering institutions,
planning, operation, maintenance, supervision of construction and installation involving investigating, advising,
operating, evaluating, measuring, designing, specifying, laying and directing, constructing, commissioning,
inspecting or testing in connection with any public utilities, structures, building machines, equipment, processes,
works or projects (COREN, 2004).
Engineering innovation refers to innovation in mechanical hardware that originates from a basic idea or the
recognition of a social need. It is concretized as a prototype and polished through research and development
(R&D) before it is manufactured.
If engineering as a profession is effectively well harnessed the Nigerian economic shall develop through
following activities:
Design, production, installation and maintenance of –

Good transportation system

Reliable and adequate energy supply system

Reliable and adequate communication system

Reliable and affordable water supply system

Adequate safety and security through provision of required security gargets in all economic sectors

Adequate and reliable production, processing and storage of food

Provision, processing and storage of standard Agricultural and forestry products

Industrialization

Automation and computerization of medical, financial, legal and educational facilities and
infrastructures.

Oil and gas equipment

Roles of Engineering Infrastructure in Ameliorating Nigeria’s Depressed Economy

Nigeria as a developing country has urgent need to pursue both economic and social welfare development. These
developments, in part, depend in the level of her economic, physical and social infrastructures.The word “infra”
means below or beneath and “structure” means, among others, the way in which something is put together and
organized of anything made of many parts, a complex whole.
Therefore, infrastructure can be defined as that which is beneath a complex whole. In this context, the broad
spectrum of facilities which derive engineering activities for the use and convenience of man such as transport
(rail, road, water, air), water support sewerage (dams, pipelines, septic tank, solidwaste disposal system),
electricity supply, petrol-chemical complexes etc are termed infrastructures (Kolawole et al, 2006).
1.Transportation
Transportation comprises roads, sea, air and railway travels. The state of transportation system in any nation
take its toll on the overall economic development of such a nation. This is because of the re-occuring need to
transport goods, services and people from one point to another.
In Nigeria today, the problem of the railway system has conceded to the road system the major means of
transporting goods for export to the air/seaport and goods imported via the air/seaport to the hinterland.
The pressure on the roads is clearly evident through the frequent breakdown reflected in several big potholes on
most of our major roads, erosion gulleys and flooding of roads in the cities. There is no gainsaying the fact that
if the Nigerian transportation system is essentially developed by government through the employment of the
engineering personnels, there will be derivation of great employment opportunities for the populace. This
translates to an improvement of quality of life ensuing from easy transportation and growth in the economy of
the nation. Added to this will be amelioration of the insecurity situation in the country, leading to foreigners
coming to invest in the country. Though air travel is another means of transportation which a lot of people still
patronize because of its fastness especially when long journeys are involved but it has its attendant problems. We
still have reports all over the world, and worse still in Nigeria in the recent past of incessant plane crashes arising
from bad air traffic control landing equipment with stray animals on runways. These also are challenges to the
engineering professional in a depressed economy like Nigeria’s.

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2. Telecommunication
During the Obasanjo regime, a lot of resources were committed to the telecommunication sector of the Nigerian
economy. Ever since then, the engineering professionals in the areas of telecommunication and electronics
engineering, computer science & engineering have been engaged. Most people have been provided with jobs
either in the private sector of the economy or self-employed. However, there is the need for improvement as
more work still needs to be done in the design and manufacture of telecommunication equipment in the country.

3. Electricity and Solar Energy Supply

It is an established fact that electricity is a most important infrastructure for economic prosperity because of its
vital need to the functioning of industries and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). Currently, Nigeria,
in the 21st century, still produces less than 4,000 Megawatts (MW) of electricity which is evidently grossly
inadequate compared to Nigeria’s population of more than 140 million people and this had led to high cost of
doing business. The electricity per capita consumption of a nation is one of the strongest or more indices to
measure the degree of development of that nation. It is rather unfortunate to disclose that, according to the
International Energy Institute’s comparative analysis of the per capital consumption of electricity worldwide,
Nigeria’s position is discouraging and even nauseating. (Atandare, 2007; Ebiojumore and Okoye, 2006). Table 1
below shows the electricity generation and per capita consumption by selected countries of the world, including
Nigeria.Though it is part of the Seven-point agenda of the President Shehu Musa Yar’Adua-led government to
address the electricity problem in Nigeria; yet it has become an enormous challenge to all the engineering
personnel in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and allied companies to generate 6,000MW of
electricity by December, 2009. The abundant natural gas in Nigeria is a challenge for engineers in our country to
produce enough electricity . It is quite embarrassing that Nigeria is yet to develop capacity to build our power
plants and produce transformers for electricity distribution. The Mambila Plateau hydro – electric power plant
was to be constructed by China for the country.
While conventional supply of electricity is already established in developing countries, though in short supply
currently, there is the need to adequately explore alternative sources, particularly Solar Energy Supply. The
Solar Energy source, though is now being explored skeletally in the country, more still needs to be done to bring
this energy source affordably to the door step of all Nigerians whether in the rural or urban areas. This is a
challenge to Mechanical and Electronics Engineers in the nation. The Olusegun Obasanjo Centre of
Engineering Innovation (OOOCEI) of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti has done several installations to
buildings in the area of Solar Energy supply. A Solar Power House is there at the Centre for exhibition of this
innovation for patronage.

Table 1. Electricity Generation and Per Capita Consumption

Country Population(million) Electricity Per Capita
Generation(MegaWatt) Consumption(KiloWatt)
USA 250 813,000 3.20
Cuba 10.6 4,000 0.38
UK 57.5 76,000 1.33
Ukraine 49 54,000 1.33
Iraq 23.6 10,000 0.42
South Korea 47 52,000 1.09
Nigeria 140 Less than 4,000 0.03
Egypt 68 18,000 0.265

4. Water Supply and Housing

Water Engineers use the slogan, water is life. Indeed, water is basic to man. It is quite necessary for drinking,
cooking, laundry, sanitation, irrigation and commercial businesses and industrial processing. Because of its
important nature in the economic development of any nation, water supply schemes need to be developed even in
the rural areas, though it is capital intensive, most of the water supply schemes in general are urban-based and
grossly inadequate. This is where Nigerian Civil, Water Resources and Public Health, Mechanical and Electrical
Engineers come in to play significant roles in this sector of the economy.
Presently, the Nigerian government’s policy on housing is to allow private investor’s dominance while it
provides the enabling environment. It is still important that government’s direct involvement is not curtailed
particularly in the provision of housing for low-income earners. Housing in the developing countries like
Nigeria should go beyond providing rooms and accommodation to include environment beautification, land-
scaping and sanitations. These areas are open to environmental engineers and the allied professionals to play
significant roles (Ndububa, 2006).

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5. Proliferation of Agricultural Machinery
There is the need in this 21st Century to replace the use of simple and conventional farm implements such as
cutlasses, hoes, sickles etc with modern machinery for enhanced agricultural output. In this, the roles of
Agricultural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers and other engineering personnel become very significant in
the design and fabrication of such equipment. South-Korea and China may not yet be popular with the
production of 4-wheel tractors but they have been able to produce single-wheel motorized ploughs which had
revolutionized their agriculture. They are even into exporting these equipment to other countries. It is challenge
for our indigenous engineering personnel to help in this area such that local farmers can graduate in the use of
these mundane farming implements-cutlasses hoes and animal driven- to the use of motorized agricultural
machinery for enhanced agricultural productivity that will ultimately help in reducing the high inflationary
trend in the already depressed economy of Nigeria.

6. Irrigation
Skills in the fields of Agricultural Engineering Technology and Water Resources Engineering are evidently
essential for the success of improved irrigation. Environmental engineers, technologists and scientists equally
have significant roles to play in the optimal utilization of irrigation and water resources systems in Nigeria,
thereby paving way for the provision of enough food all-the-year round for the teeming population, as it is
practiced in the developed countries of the world.

Application of Engineering and Technology in Alleviating Nigeria’s Depressed Economy

The Policy
The Science and Technology protocol of the African Economic Community (UNECA, 1995) in its recognition of
the important link between Science and Technology and economic development in Africa highlighted the
following as its aim:
1. To strengthen scientific technological capabilities of member states through programmes aimed at the proper
application of science and technology for economic development.
2. To strengthen national, regional and continental institutions and centres concerned with science and
technology with a view of application of research results to solving Africa’s economic and social problems.
3. To set up national policies for the development and application of science and technology with a view
to facilitating their integration into national economic and social development plans.
In a paper delivered in the USA byone of the Ministers in the Japanese government on Japan’s economy,
Sadakazu (1998) pronounced as follows:
“Japan’s economy, which grew smoothly after the Second World War, is now in a very severe economic
situation. During these challenging times, the Hashimoto Administration is tackling the reforms necessary to
build the nation’s foundations toward the 21st century. He is reviewing the socio-economic system completely.
Without the reforms, Japan may not be able to enjoy a prosperous 21st century. With regard to the economy, a
stimulus package worth more than 16 trillion Yen (US $120 billion) is underway. It is the largest ever in scale
and directed toward the expansion of domestic consumptions. One of its emphases is on renewing and
renovating social fundamentals. One trillion Yen (US $7.5 billion) will be allocated to promoting Science and
Technology and advancing information and telecommunication systems. The promotion of Science and
Technology, which leads the structural reform of Japan’s economy, will also benefit the world’s economy”.
The implication of this paper is that Japan’s economic policy gave recognition to Science, Engineering and
Technology as the country’s unalloyed source of powerful economic development necessary to better the lives of
her citizens. Any nation that does not possess this kind of credential of willingness for change and actually
pursuing it will continue to experience a depressed economy till the end of age.

The Justification for the Need to Apply Engineering and Technology in Nigeria’s Depressed Economy
The need to address the economic depression in Nigeria, particularly as in most developing nations, of the world
with Africa as a case study is crystal clear. The low level of development of African nations, with probably the
exception f South-Africa which is about the only country in Africa whose economy can complete with global
treads, is consequent upon their dismally-poor economy. Some of the depressing economic statistics are as
follows.
1. Greater than 60% of Nigerian populace earn less than US $1 a day (NEEDS, 2005).
2. Poverty in Nigeria increased from 27% in 1980 to close to 70% in 1999 (NEEDS, 2005)
3. The whole of Africa as a continent, at the turn of the 21st Century, contributed only 1% to the world
development (Adedeji, 2001).
4. The Human Development Index (HDI) of Nigeria in 2001 was 0.445 according to UNDP as against 0.88,
0.774 and 0.667 for Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia respectively, African nations ranked very low
(Ndububa and Tsegha, 2003).
5. The power generation in Nigeria is below 4,000MW as at 2009 as against 40,000MW generated by South
Africa. Table 1 above illuminates more.

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Challenges of Economic Development to Engineering and Technology in a Depressed Economy
According to Iweala and Kwaako (2007), Nigeria with a population of over 140 million people is the most
populous country in Africa whose GDP is only next to that of South Africa. Several years of military rule and
poor management of the country’s economy had brought to Nigeria a prolonged period of economic stagnation,
rising poverty levels and the collapse of most of its public institutions.
This phenomenon had prompted the Nigerian Government in 2005 to formulate a policy it summarized in a
document called National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). That document
highlights the challenges of development thus:
1. Nigeria’s per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was among the lowest in the world in the 1980’s
and 1990s costing the country decades of development. Nigeria needs a growth of 4.2% to reduce poverty
significantly. With a per capita income of about US $300 per annum, the country had become one of the
poorest in the world rating.
2. High macro-economic volatility, which is manifest in stunted economic growth, poor issues of trade,
unstable exchange rate and unpredictable government revenue and spending, low industrialization and
non-oil export, has become a key determinant and consequence of poor economic management.
3. For more than three consecutive years, Nigeria has never growth at 7% or more. As a result of negative
perceptions and harsh realities, there is high capital and human outflow (brain drain). The Nigerian
economy is not diversified; most foreign direct investments go into oil and gas sectors and oil exports
account for 95% of total exports. Manufacturing accounts for less than 1%.
4. Unsustainable public sector spending and inefficient public finance management have been the bane of
development. Lack of policy coherence among the Federal, State, Local Governments and even
various agencies and parastatals of the Federal Government was noticeable. The national plan and
budgeting processes, which are traditional instruments of economic management, have become
ineffective and inefficient.
5. Inhospitable business environment has brought about very low productivity of the private sector and
lack of diversification of the economy.
6. With an urbanization rate growing at 5.3% yearly, Nigeria’s is the fastest in the world. This had
culminated into a stagnant secondary sector, urban unemployment and its high attendant problems of
slums, militancy, kidnapping, armed robbery, vandalism, political thuggery and so on.
7. Nigeria faces the challenge of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) statistics. From the 1996 survey
indicate that poverty is deep and pervasive, with an estimated 70% of Nigerians living in abject
poverty. The situation is really serious and pathetic for an oil-producing nation which presently should not
have any business with poverty amongst the majority of her citizens.

Government’s Negative Attitude towards Engineering and Technology: a Bane to Alleviating the
Depressed Economy
1. One of the negative attitudes of government (Federal, State, Local Government and other Parastatals) in
Nigeria towards the practice of engineering is the discrimination of successive governments against
indigenous engineering contractors and consultants. Nigeria has continued to pay lip service to the
engagement of indigenous engineering contractors and consultants for both high and medium-class projects.
The Chinese Vice-President, in 1984, advised that Nigeria should rely on local human resources and
indigenous efforts towards implementing projects that would pave way for her eventual technological
emancipation.
The situation is, however, to the contrary in some African countries where efforts had already been made to
engage indigenous engineering personnel as contractors and consultants in government projects. Akintunde
(1994), in his paper, pointed out that the Kenyan Government, as at 1994, had adopted a policy by which all
engineering consultancy projects are awarded only to indigenous Kenyan consultancy firms. They were,
however, allowed to invite indigenized (foreign) firms in joint venture arrangements when the scope of such
projects awarded had gone beyond the capability of the indigenous firms. That is okay, but Nigeria’s case is
to the contrary. There is no doubt that such indigenous engineering personnel, who have registered as
potential contractors and/or consultants, if awarded government projects, would be encouraged to contribute
to the nation’s economic growth. This phenomenon would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths
who otherwise serve as armed robbers, kidnapper’s militants, touts and political thugs in the country. Daily
loss of lives of brilliant Nigerians, who would have been useful in alleviating the nation’s depressed
economy in their respective capacity, would have been salvaged.
2. A Nigerian situation where those who have nothing at all to do with engineering or at worst allied
engineering disciplines are allowed to continue to occupy key and strategic engineering positions such as
Ministers, Commissioners and others in Government Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals at the three-tiers
of government, is highly disturbing and disgusting. For instance, it has never happened for Ministers and
Commissioners of Justice and Attorney-General or Ministers and Commissioners for Health to be engineers,
they have always been Lawyers, Medical Doctors respectively. Contrariwise, Lawyers and Medical Doctors
had always been appointed Ministers and Commissioners of Works in Nigeria. What an abnormally and
xvii
 misplacement! It is quite nauseating and a clear reason for the level of under-development of the nation
since it is only engineering and technology that can emancipate any country technologically.
It is on record that President John Kennedy, who became the 35th and youngest USA President in 1961 to
1963, though not an engineer himself, utilized scientists and engineers, by means of the material and
financial resources available to his country, to achieve making USA to be the first nation in the world to
launch Astronauts to hoist her national flag in the moon.
Government, at all levels, must exhibit transparency that will put corruption to shame in the country.
Thanks to the recent waking-up of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Allied Matters Commission (ICPC) from sudden slumber in this
direction.

Impact of Appropriate Engineering and Technology Education in Combating Depressed Economy

If the engineering and technology professionals would play their roles well in combating the present economic
depression the nation faces, then the quality of graduates produced from our nation’s tertiary institutions
(Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education) must be high, competing favourably in the international
market. It was discovered, from a National Assessment Survey of Graduates from the nation’s universities
conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC) that employers of labour generally rated Nigerian
University graduates on the average scale with many making poor scores in Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) and entrepreneurial skills; these are two vital instruments needed to compete with in the 21st
Century (Okebukola et al, 2005).
Shown in table 2 below are the results of questionnaires administered in this respect on Employers of Labour in
Selected organisations in Nigeria having some of these graduates on their payroll.

Table 2: Response profile by Employers on competencies of Nigerian Graduates of

Engineering and Technology
Parameters for Assessment Very Good Average Poor Very
Good (%) (%) (%) Poor
(%) (%)
Literary Skills 7.8 42.3 42.3 3.8 3.8
Oral Communication Skills 7.8 38.4 46.2 7.6 -
Information Technology Skills 3.8 26.9 46.2 23.1 -
Entrepreneural Skills - 15.4 50.0 30.8 3.8
Analytical Skills - 42.3 42.3 15.4 -
Problem solving/decision-making skills 11.5 26.9 42.3 19.3 -
Subject-specific knowledge 3.8 50.0 38.4 7.8 -
Technical Skills 11.5 23.0 46.2 19.3 -
Critical thinking skills - 23.0 65.4 11.6 -
Self-Directed learning skills 7.8 30.8 53.8 3.8 3.8
Interpersonal skills - 46.2 53.8 - -
Numeracy 3.8 50.0 42.3 3.9 -

The NUC report of assessment further showed that Nigerian Graduates in Engineering and Technology record
major short comings in the following areas.
1. Inability to use modern equipment/devices as a result of inadequate practical exposure.
2. Low comprehension of problems and minimum ability to proffer solutions.
3. Weak analyses of issues.
4. Low exhibition of skills in information and communications technology.
5. Entrepreneural skill is very dismally low
At the Polytechnic level, some of these problems are being addressed first with the introduction of new United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)/National Board for Technical Education
(NBTE) curricula in all engineering and technology disciplines, among others. But as good as these new
curricula are in theoretical and practical content, there has not been provision of modern equipment to back these
up; even the old conventional equipment/devices in use in the laboratories and workshops are dilapidated and
not adequate ab-initio. It has also been discovered that even many engineering lecturers are yet to flow along the
modern trend in ICT. The NBTE had just indicated compulsory training in ICT for all academic staff, setting a
deadline of 2010 after when any academic staff who is not ICT-compliant would not earn further promotion in
the system. Institutions have also been directed to establish a Centre for Entrepreneurship Development having
already incorporated the teaching of Entrepreneurship Development courses in the ND and HND curricula. All
these programmes need to be monitored to ensure a strict compliance. Engineering and technology professionals
have some duty here.

xviii
Funding of Engineering and Technology Development
The greatest obstacle outside basic policy to the development of engineering and technology is funding. At
present, we are still below 0.2 per cent of GDP. Figure 3 below entitled the vital difference shows clearly the
influence of expenditure engineering and technology development, on industrialization and social development.
The situation of funding engneering and technology development in Nigeria can only improve when our
campaign to get the executive and the legislature to accept the National Policy on Science and Technology
succeeds.
No matter the amount of funding available, we require highly-trained manpower for effective engineering and
technology development. This calls for adequate equipping of institutions of higher learning and recruiting well-
motivated academic and technical staff. Right now, very limited research goes on in our institutions of higher
learning because of heavy staff teaching load, and limited research grants.There is also the need to expose the
academic staff to industrial practice.
Another weakness in our system right now is the near absence of continuing education programmes. COREN
requires engineers to up-date themselves in the fields of new technology and practice, but there are virtually no
courses available from our institutions.
We cannot begin to move our frontiers of technology, unless we have a good base of engineering practice. This
will happen when hardwares engineering products surround our everyday activity. This is only possible if more
professional engineers get involved in engineering construction and manufacture. The presence of professional
engineers in these fields are essential to start setting standards. When standards are set, trying to implement
them, or improving on them, gives rise to innovation and continuous research.

Fig. 3 The Vital Difference

Conclusion
This paper has proved that the depressed economy of Nigeria which has become a cankerworm eating deeply
into her fabrics is such that can be addressed. The right application of engineering and technology could solve
the problems since the categorization of any nation as developed or developing mostly depends on her level of
technological development and hence, its economic viability. Engineers and other associated persons in the
engineering profession are proponents of change in any society. Here in the Nigerian situation, the ones to
bring about the change are unfortunately not recognized. This anomaly, if addressed by government, would lead
to motivation which in turn, translates to encouragement on the part of the engineering professionals to perform
better for the economy to grow.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s economic growth and development have been retarded by corrupt practices at the high
level of governance. Good policies supported by effective institutions and infrastructure promote economic
growth and prosperity. Economic growth and higher living standards benefit a society in various ways including
reduction in crime rate. However, because Nigeria’s leaders are unable to provide a solution to the problems
facing the nation, Nigerians have often resorted to waiting for the elusive ‘messiah’; as sound as that is , it has
been discovered that this alone will not resolve Nigeria’s spotty electricity, rising unemployment, poverty, pot-
holed roads, electoral frauds problems etc, but the collective will of all citizens for a change of attitude and
hardwork for improved productivity. Nothing is possible without supportive environment. Nobody wants to do
business in a society that is perceived as corrupt and lawless.

xix
Recommendations
The following recommendations are hereby made to alleviate the problems of depressed economy in Nigeria.
1. Government should accord the necessary recognition to Engineers and other personnel in the engineering
family as a motivation to encourage them to higher level of performance.
2. Government must also be seen to midwife and facilitate conducive environment that will allow private
sector led economic development and growth.
3..Transparency that will put corruption at bay is a vital requirement. To this end, the EFCC, ICPC and other
anti-corruption agencies of government should he given the free-hand to operate devoid of government
unnecessary dictatorship.
4. Nigerian Government should consider patronizing indigenous engineering personnel as consultants and
contractors for high-level projects instead of engaging foreign contractors.
5. Engineers and other engineering personnel in the family should brace up to the challenge of improving
water supply housing, telecommunications, Energy supply by using their expertise to advise government
appropriately.
6. Government should always appoint engineers ,as the head of the engineering family, into key engineering
positions in the relevant ministries/commissioners at the Federal and State Government as it is done for
lawyers in the Ministry of Justice and medical doctors in the Health Ministry. This will create appropriateness
of policy making and implementation which would bring the desired dividends of democracy to the yearning
citizens of this country and hence, contribute immensely to alleviation of the economic depression devilling
the Nation.
7.. Government must aim at spending at least 1% of GDP on Engineering and Technology development.
8. There must be provision of equipment and devices in various laboratories and workshops of engineering
departments in Nigerian tertiary institutions such that Nigerian graduates could be well-exposed to the
practical contents of the engineering curricula. This gesture is expected to make most of the graduates self-
reliant instead of waiting endlessly to compete for the scanty job slots in government employment.
9. More engineers and others in the engineering family should get more involved in manufacturing and
construction of prototype engineering products that will benefit mankind.
10. Government should come up with special Engineers Salary Scale (ESS) like the Medical Staff Salary
(MSS), special package for Judicial officers, Teachers Salary Scale (TSS) in which special allowances will be
worked out that will apply to all engineering professionals wherever they are employed. This will not make
this class of professionals inferior to others.
11. Developing countries should adopt the private sector-driven economic model in which governments should
provide basic infrastructures, formulate policies and play supervisory roles while the private sector engages in
profit-oriented businesses.
12. Governments should discourage monopolies in business and services provision as this encourages
competitions which is important for economic development.
13. Indigenous expertise in engineering and technology should be encouraged through and foreign expertise
should only be contracted where indigenous expertise are not available as his will enhance capacity building
and conserve foreign exchange.
14. Professionals in engineering and technology, educational institutions and the industry must create a
synergy that promotes collaboration and the production of research output.
15. Governments and all stakeholders must accord Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) high priority at
the secondary school level in order to produce scientifically and technically minded citizenry that is needed for
economic development.
16. New developments in engineering be incorporated in the Minimum
Academic Standards of Engineering and Technology discipline, while obsolete and outdated topics should be
expunged from the curriculum;
17. ICT – based teaching should be the focus of Nigerian Universities. To effectively do this, every academic
staff should be helped to acquire computer laptop to aid service delivery in the system.
18. Entrepreneural studies should be incorporated in the Nigerian University curriculum. This is already
incorporated in the Polytechnic curriculum.
19. Proper application of knowledge in all engineering disciplines to the development of socio-economic
sectors, essentially transportation, telecommunications, water supply and houses, agriculture, energy,
industry, environment, health, biotechnology.
20. Preparation and implementation of national strategies for engineering research and development (R & D).
21. Improvement of existing workshop and laboratory facilities and development of institutional capabilities
for the development, management, utilization and popularization of the engineering profession in
Nigeria.
22. Promotion of mechanisms for the exchange of engineering information and documentation through
exchange programmes between industries and educational institutions locally and internationally.
23. Development of programmes and curricular common to all engineering disciplines which should include
training and consistent re-training of all skilled engineering manpower.
xx
 24. Continuous reform of educational systems, keeping in mind local and cultural factors in order to
adopt better educational approach for the development of engineering skills.
25. Harmonization and adoption of laws and practices for the acquisition of technology by way of regulations
on intellectual property, foreign direct investment, joint ventures licensing, copy (or stolen) technology for
adaptation to our local situation.
26. Utilization of indigenous engineering personnel as consultants for government projects. This is the
Kenyan experience and should be sufficiently practiced in Nigeria.
27. Proper funding of engineering programmes in the Nation’s tertiary educational institutions.
28. Motivation of engineering personnel by improving on their remuneration.

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