FUTO, ABSU win engineering award

CHARLES ABAH


Winners of the 2006/2007 London-based Higher Education Engineering Challenge (HEEC) have emerged with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and the Abia State University clinching the first position. They received N200,000 for their hard work.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) came second and third respectively in the grand finale held at UNILAG. While the UNILAG representatives got N100,000, their UNN counterparts received N50,000.

The initiative organized by Engineering Forum of Nigerians in United Kingdom (EFN) is targeted at promoting the development of engineering skills and innovation among young Nigerians.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the HEEC committee chairman, Dr Remi Olatunbosun added that the contest would expose the participants to more innovative solutions to engineering problems.

This year’s theme entitled "provision of clean water supply", he said, was chosen to seek better ways of encouraging budding engineers to contribute to national development.

Dr Olatunbosun while throwing more light on the competition said it was open to all engineering and technology students in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

"Each year, an engineering challenge will be thrown to these budding engineers to provide innovative solutions to engineering problems under a theme which is considered of vital importance to national development," he added.

Dr Olatunbosun who implored undergraduates to continue to participate in the contest, said the EFN would help them to seek expert advice on production development, source capital as well as connection with prospective manufacturers.