Institute Organizes Global Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program for UNIZIK Students

By Praise Chinecherem

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Industrial Application Society (IAS) has organized a one-day mentoring program for students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state.

The seminar, tagged Global Mentorship Program (GMP) was organized in conjunction with Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, UNIZIK.

Adviser of IEEE IAS, UNIZIK, Engr Dozie Ekwunife said the programme was aimed at assembling experts in their various fields to interface with the students with the intention of mentoring them.

He said, “IEEE is a technical body that is interested in using technology to solve problem of humanity. We also have interest in the next generation as we try to groom younger ones so they can become problem solvers and innovators.

“We have several programmes. But this one is called global mentoring program, an Industry Application Society (IAS) which seeks to bridge the gap between theories and practice.

“The goal of this project is to assemble mentors who are experts in their various fields to interface with younger ones. Our targeted audience is final year students, those in 400Level and others.

“These experts, through their experiences, will also mentor the students on entrepreneurship and how to start and sustain business.”

Describing Industrial Training as time for acquisition of skills and knowledge, and not for money making, Ekwunife underscored the need for the university authority to take the program seriously, including penalizing unserious students.

“The system provides opportunity for monitoring of students during their IT as well as defense after the experience. The university authority should accord these processes the seriousness they deserve so the students themselves will equally be serious with the programme.

“If you take your IT period seriously, I can assure you that you’ll be empowered with knowledge and skills and you can begin to earn money even while in school,” he added.

One of the resource persons, Engr Dr Ajuzie Uchechukwu, Chief Engineer with Electronic Development Institute (ELDI), a division of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to integrate more practical sessions in the curriculum of Engineering Faculties in Nigerian universities.

Delivering a lecture on “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practical in Engineering, Ajuzie said the practical integration in the curriculum had become necessary to ensure “holistic” rather than half-baked students on graduation.

He said, “Most of the things thought in both universities and polytechnics are theories. As important as those theories are, which the students must take very seriously, there’s need to merge them with the practical aspect, which they will most likely acquire from the industries.

“As an IT Coordinator in ELDI, I encourage the students to be serious with their IT because I discovered most of them don’t take such opportunities seriously. Some spent such times engaging in one business or another.

“For others, it’s a time to rest from school work. But IT should be a time to add value to one’s certificate. It’s a time to acquire relevant skills and knowledge to assist one face real life after school.

“Those who were serious, graduate to become job creators and employers instead of job seekers. That’s why the lecture is targeted at turning the mindset of the students of becoming job creators and problem solvers and not creators.

“If you see the joy and excitement in the faces of students when they come for IT, you know something is lacking. The practical aspect makes the exercise more interesting. Even before they finish, they’re already doing exploits.

“If I’m left to recommend for NUC, a lot of practicals should be merged with theories. If NUC can integrate a lot of practicals to the theories in the curriculum, it will better the students.”

Chairman, Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), Awka Chapter, Engr Dr Ifeyinwa Dimson challenged female students to venture into engineering field where opportunities abound to imbibe skills.

Dimson, a Reader and Associate Professor in Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering, UNIZIK, expressed joy over increasing number of female students in engineering faculty, contrary to what was obtainable in the past.

Acknowledging the “strength” requirements in the field, Dimson who also doubles as Coordinator, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) said such should not constitute impediment to the female students desiring to study the course.

She said, “In APWEN, our target is girl mentorship; we encourage our female students to practice engineering and imbibe skills. APWEN was formed in 1982 by about 4 women, but today our number has increased tremendously.

“Girls naturally shy away from Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering. But through hands-on training, we’ve impacted much on them.

“In 2005 when I graduated, we had about 13 females while Mechanical had only one. But today, my department can boast of about 30 female students in a class.

“The world and technology is evolving. We appreciate the fact that there are areas in engineering that requires strength of men. But there are special areas that need patience of women to thrive. For example, programming requires details, which women are good at.

“Same with mechanical engineering. I want to encourage them to come in and take over some of these soft skills in advanced technology that men have less interest in and explore those areas.

“Meanwhile, any woman that comes into engineering must be strong. Strength is a function of the mind. Whatever you decide in your mind, you can achieve, especially as young engineers. When they start growing old, they can now go into leadership and administrative roles.”