Academics and engineering students from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) have called on the Federal Government and education stakeholders to make significant investments in modern technology infrastructure to bridge the widening practical skills gap in Nigeria’s engineering education.
The appeal was made upon their return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after a successful 20-day intensive practical training programme at Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (ZIME) in Hangzhou, China.
A total of 37 engineering students and two staff members participated in the pioneering exchange programme, which aimed to expose Nigerian students to cutting-edge technologies and global best practices in engineering.
Prof. Moses Onibonoje, Provost of ABUAD’s College of Engineering, described the programme as a transformative milestone for the institution. He noted that the students had already completed the theoretical component in Nigeria, allowing them to fully maximize the hands-on training in China.
During the programme, students gained practical experience operating advanced equipment, including programmable logic control (PLC) systems, digital twin laboratories, robotic arm technologies, CNC machines, 3D printers, and sophisticated metrology tools.
“This is a pioneer programme for the College of Engineering, and the experience has been overwhelming,” Prof. Onibonoje said. “Our students acquired advanced skills in intelligent manufacturing technology and intelligent control technology. They also gained valuable international exposure".
He praised the founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for supporting the partnership, which is expected to open doors for future academic exchanges and postgraduate scholarships.
Dr. Imhade Princess Okokpujie, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at ABUAD, commended the students’ adaptability but emphasized the urgent need for improved local infrastructure.
“Our students demonstrated high intelligence and adaptability. However, we must acknowledge that local infrastructure remains a major bottleneck,” she stated. Dr. Okokpujie called for deliberate and substantial government investment in laboratories and workshops across Nigerian universities.
The students described the experience as life-changing. Adeniji Adam Opeyemi, a 500-level Mechanical Engineering student, said the programme brought theoretical concepts to life.
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“We worked with CNC machines, 3D printers, and digital twin systems. These are things we only studied theoretically in Nigeria. Now we have real practical experience”, Opeyemi remarked.
Judith Obioha, a 500-level Mechatronics Engineering student, highlighted the excellent student-to-machine ratio in China, which allowed every participant to gain hands-on experience.
The successful programme underscores ABUAD’s commitment to producing globally competitive engineering graduates through strategic international collaborations. It also highlights the growing importance of practical, industry-relevant training in addressing Nigeria’s technological and industrial development needs.
Stakeholders believe that replicating such exposure on a larger scale could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s engineering workforce and support the country’s ambition to become a major player in automation, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing.
