from Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti
what you could call productive education where students become manufacturers and entrepreneurs after their training and would not have to look for jobs is happening in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.
Students recently showcased their skills when they presented products from the trainings they receive from their various departments. Students of Faculty of Engineering have products such as drones, CNC router, printers and computers, while those of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences showcased electronic microscope, drugs and others.
Those from the Department of Mass Communications showed works produced, edited and directed in their studios. So did students from Agriculture, Technology, Law, Social Sciences among others showcased products from their respective departments.
Students and pupils of some private primary and secondary schools were invited to witness the presentation to inspire and motivate them towards creative and productive thinking.
Outstanding among the presentations was a drone designed by a team of five final year undergraduates of the Department of Computer Engineering. Peter Onajinrin, leader of the team, said the drone is called Autonomous Surveillance Drone. He explained: “It is a drone that can fly on its own and avoid obstacles on its own. And it can come back to its same spot and can cover live events.”
He added that the drone was made through a process of auto-pilot and GPS, saying it could be programmed to perform its mission and accomplish it without further monitoring:
“We felt great and fulfilled that ABUAD has taught us a lot. This has made me to pick interest in aerospace. Our supervisors are Akinola S.O, and Bankole Oladapo. My colleagues include Damola Awesu, Fasesan Damilola, Awopetu Abiola, and Joshua Usen. The project was supervised under the management of Directorate of Technological Development of ABUAD.”
Professor Adeyemi Aderogba, director of the directorate, explained that a need to ensure that the world knows that the university is producing graduates who could become employers of labour instead of searching for jobs, partly informed the development:
“The situation in the country made universities protect their products because of piracy and violence, but this has been taking a toll on us. So we chose to showcase our products. You would see wonders in the exhibition areas where many of our students are showcasing their products. We have samples of what each department could do in the exhibition even to the point of our cultural heritage as showcased by our students.
“The university cultural troupe is here and we have showcased our local textile products, bags, and shoes among others. This is a maiden edition we will integrate more robust cultural aspects into it in the nearest future. We have a dress code here and I am one of those who wear locally made wears. In future years, we would showcase more. We are targeting the future and embracing the kids from secondary and primary schools.
“We are bringing the kids in order to motivate and inspire them for greatness The benefits we hope to derive from this development is to increase student ship, enhance our public image, and commercialize our inventions. In Engineering, we invited investors and are looking for possibilities of commercialising our students’ products.
“An industrial park is coming soon with 121 industries in Ado-Ekiti. They will be cited in the premises of ABUAD secondary schools. We are already working towards this.
“We want to advise government not to see private universities as merely profit making institutions. We also join in training graduates who develop the nation. The government ought to be giving private universities benefits they are giving the government universities. We should also benefit from TetFund for government institutions and others. All our products are also going to the country to serve.
“The future of education is in hands of private schools. We need moral help, lands, local governments and communities, serving as host to the private institutions should not have negative attitude towards owners of private institutions.”
Founder and President of the university, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), said: “We started ABUAD in a tick forest but today it is most beautiful private varsity in Africa. Today is our first open day where we showcase what our students can produce. We appreciate the school senior officers who gave the idea of having open day in the university.
“To the students and teachers participating from outside, you are representative of a new world and you should tell others, this is a great vision that has overtaken older universities. We are making history.
“I was forced to go school, in your case, you were not forced. You are in a university rated as one of the best in the country. How many of you have ambitions?
“We have the best colleges in this country for any course you wish to study. Our Engineering Faculty is a template for others in the country, our College of Law has been described as best in Africa. Medicine is also one of the best and we have got 100 percent accreditation for all our programmes.”