NCDMB to commercialize top undergraduate engineering projects

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will partner the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology of Nigerian Universities (CODET) to develop and commercialize the best engineering projects completed by undergraduates in the 2017/2018 academic session.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote made the commitment on Tuesday at the 27^th Engineering Assembly organised by COREN in Abuja. He spoke after the announcement of the top three individual and group engineering undergraduate projects in the country by the Committee of Deans.

The top three prizes for Best Individual Engineering Projects went to Egbe Gabriel Tobi and Nsionu John Udoka both from Covenant University Ota, Ogun State and Omoseyi Aaron Tolu of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). Similarly, students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) clinched the top three awards for the Best Group Engineering Projects respectively.

The top three Best Graduating Students in Engineering emerged from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Covenant University and Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) while the prizes for Best Academic publication went to students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Michal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

These competitions involved the 49 COREN accredited universities in Nigeria and the contestants went through departmental and faculty levels, with the top three from each university competing at their various zone before the final selection that was held at the sidelines of the COREN Assembly on Monday.

Announcing the Board’s support to the CODET Awards, which he described as a great initiative, Wabote said, “NCDMB would work with the Committee to reconvene the winners and go through the projects with a view to develop and commercialize them,” adding that “part of our mandate is to enhance research and development. As part of our contribution, we will support them through the development stage of the findings they have put together.”

The Executive Secretary also announced the endowment of annual prizes for the Best Research Publication by any Engineering Undergraduate. He also procured 300 copies of the authoritative book, “Professional Engineering Practice” to be donated to the Universities.

Wabote commended the current COREN leadership, particularly the President, Engr. Kashim Ali for restoring professionalism to the engineering sector and organizing a successful COREN Assembly. He noted that the Board had recorded numerous achievements in the oil and gas industry and would achieve much more if the agency’s mandate were extended to other key sectors like power, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and construction.