BRIEF REPORT:
Re: Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) Competition held on Friday, 30th November, 2018 @ Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The SOfE competition is an annual event organized by the young members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), UK. This year’s event (4th Nigeria heat) was done in partnership with the Nigeria Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE). Eight (8) Nigerian Universities were invited to participate in the competition, but only five (5) finally showed up for the contest, and they include; Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka – i.e. the host university, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Uli, IMO State University (IMSU), Owerri, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu, University of Agriculture (UNIAGRIC), Makurdi However, entrants/contingents of Bayero University, Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka were conspicuously absent from the event even though invitations were also extended to them.
The event had in attendance the Young Members Vice Representative, Middle East and Africa Region, Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Onyenanu, NIMechE Awka Chapter Chairman, Engr. Cyprian Azubuike Umeh as representative of NIMechE National Chairman. Others are; Engr. A. C Ihejika, and Mrs Celine N. Enukoha as Judge and Chief Judge of the competition respectively.
On behalf of IMechE, UK, the sponsoring organisation, Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Onyenanu welcomed all invited guests and contestants to the 2018 SOfE National Competition. The keynote address was delivered by the NIMechE Awka Chapter Chairman; Engr. Cyprian Azubuike Umeh on behalf of the NIMechE National Chairman Engr. Dr. Robinson Ejilah.
The year’s topic for discussion was to generate Ideas on how best to solve the issue of future drinkable water crisis in the world. The event involves the entrants giving a 20 minute presentation followed by a period of questions from the audience.
At the end of the event, IMSU student Mr. Chukwudi C. Chigozie came out tops, and Mr Ekweozor Michael from COOU was the runner up. The winner of the event went home with 300GBP ( approx. N140,000) + a trip to Mauritius to represent Nigeria at the Middle East & Africa Regional finals on the 15th of December, 2018. The runner up went home with 200GBP ( approx N93,000) + IMechE, UK student membership CERTIFICATE, and other registered contestants went home each with free IMechE, UK student membership CERTIFICATE as complementary items.
The event was considered very exciting as the judges hinted that first two positions were keenly contested by contingents of competing Institutions.
Our congratulations go to all competitors for competing through the heat. Our thanks go to the Nigerian Organizing Team for the logistics surrounding the competition which was enjoyed by all who attended the event.
NIMechE National Chairman