Nigeria could continue to trail behind in global technological advancement unless governments at all levels take urgent steps to modernise engineering laboratories and workshops in tertiary institutions across the country.
This concern was expressed by academics and students of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) following the return of 37 engineering students and two lecturers from an intensive practical training programme at the Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (ZIME) in Hangzhou, China.
According to the delegation, the programme exposed participants to some of the world’s most advanced engineering technologies and highlighted the significant disparity between engineering education in Nigeria and China. They noted that while Nigerian students have the intellectual ability to compete globally, outdated facilities and insufficient investment in practical training continue to hinder their potential.
Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the Provost of ABUAD’s College of Engineering, Prof. Moses Onibonoje, stated that Nigeria’s ambition for industrialisation would remain difficult to achieve without purposeful investment in modern engineering infrastructure.
He explained that the students completed the theoretical aspect of the three-month programme in Nigeria before proceeding to China for a 20-day intensive practical session focused on intelligent manufacturing and intelligent control technologies.
During the training, the participants worked with advanced equipment, including Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems, digital twin laboratories, robotic arm technologies, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, industrial-grade 2D and 3D printers, coordinate milling machines and precision metrology equipment.
“Our students have demonstrated that Nigerian youth can compete with their peers anywhere in the world when given access to the right facilities. What they need is an enabling environment that supports innovation, research and practical learning,” Onibonoje said.
He described the exchange programme as a major milestone for ABUAD, noting that it also introduced students to China’s culture of innovation, industrial discipline and rapid technological advancement.
The Provost further commended the university’s founder, Aare Afe Babalola, for facilitating the partnership, adding that it has opened doors for future academic collaborations and postgraduate scholarship opportunities.
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Imhade Princess Okokpujie, said the students performed exceptionally in areas such as programming, advanced manufacturing and 3D printing, demonstrating that the major challenge facing engineering education in Nigeria is inadequate infrastructure rather than a shortage of talent.
She emphasised the need for sustained investment in modern laboratories and workshops, stressing that such facilities are essential if Nigeria is to build a technology-driven economy capable of competing with leading industrial nations.
One of the participants, Adeniji Adam Opeyemi, a 500-level Mechanical Engineering student, said the programme helped translate classroom theories into practical skills through hands-on experience with CNC machines, digital twin systems and other advanced manufacturing technologies.
He noted that engineering education in China is predominantly practice-oriented, with students spending more time in laboratories and workshops than in conventional lecture rooms.
Another participant, Judith Obioha, a 500-level Mechatronics Engineering student, said students were given unrestricted access to sophisticated equipment, enabling each participant to gain individual practical experience without having to compete for access to machines.
She added that the exchange programme also provided cultural exposure, including Chinese language lessons and visits to museums.
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