The President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu has revealed that COREN is currently putting structure in place to begin gradual shift to Outcome Based Education in Nigeria.
He made this statement through a COREN Council Member, and former Vice President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE Engr (Mrs) Margaret Oguntala who represented him at the 4th edition of Annual John Egbe Memorial lecture organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers Calabar Branch on 22nd April 2021 in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
Oguntala said that COREN’s shifts to Outcome Based Education (OBE) is expected to address the persistent skills shortage whereby academically sound Engineering graduates are unable to express practical functionality on the jobs as a result of the disconnect between what is taught and that which is expected of them on the field.
She explained that the adoption of OBE will pave way for the internationalisation of the Nigerian engineering qualifications and improvement of the quality, proficiency and global mobility Engineers.
She informed the gathering that COREN is now a member of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) which means that Nigerian Engineers can now practice in over 26 Countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Speaking on the theme of the 2021 edition: ” Re-Engineering a Sustainable and user friendly e-learning approach in the post-COVID era”, Oguntala said that government should do more to put in place adequate measures to achieve and sustian e-learning.
She said poor power supply system and internet connectivity remained among the challenges of e-learning adoption in the country. She recommended that data cost should be made affordable, while calling on companies to deploy their Corporate Social Responsibility to provide free Wi-Fi in more institutions across the country”
She commended the Branch’s initiative to honour the memory of its pioneer chairman, Engr John Egbe, who worked very hard to build a good foundation for the Branch.
The President of NSE, Engr. Babagana Mohammed, who attended the event via Zoom, said the theme of the event was apt and in tune with the present need of the country. He said that our educational institutions needed to key into the new system of learning.
Three papers were presented at the event. UNICROSS E-learning Approach in the Wake of COVID-19 by Prof. Ajibade Babson, (DAP UNICROSS Calabar); Curbing E-education cybercrime by Rex Mafiana; and UNICAL e-Learning Approach in wake of COVID-19 by Prof. A. E. Akan (Director of ICT, UNICAL).
Professor of African Arts and Visual Culture, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Babson Ajibade in his paper titled: UNICROSS E-learning Approach In The Wake Of COVID-19 Era, said aside the epileptic power supply in Nigeria, students should have a positive mindset by first accepting e-learning. Ajibade said the epileptic power supply should not be a hindrance to students as the world was changing from traditional way of learning to e-learning system. He said that the first approach to making a success of it is to condition the mind that it has come to stay. as the world is fast changing and everyone has to change,”
Speaking on behalf of the family, a daughter of the late Egbe, Dr. Ado Egbe, thanked the Branch for honouring her father with the annual lecture, adding that her father left inspiring footprint for younger generations to emulate.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Branch, Ndifon Agbiji, said the event was to commemorate the memory of late Egbe and induction of new members into the engineering family. He said the theme of the event was carefully chosen to reflect the present situation in the country and the world and how it had affected the education sector.,
At the end of the event the Branch honoured some Engineers for their contributions to engineering. Some of them are COREN President Engr Ali Rabiu, Engr Bassey Nkposong, MD Cross Rivers Development Authority, Engr Margaret Ogunlata, former Vice President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, and MD Bamsat Nig. Limited
In attendance were: a Vice President of NSE Engr Goodluck A. Ohwodo, Engr Dr. Abdulrasheed Babalola, National Executive member of NSE, Engr Eden Andem Bassey, a former National chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers and also Commissioner for ICT, Cross Reivers (He represented the Governor of the state, Barr Joe Abang), traditional rulers and others.
Report by Isqil Najim follow me on twitter @isqilnajim