The Nigerian Society of Engineers, in collaboration with MIDAS IT, India, have donated engineering software valued at over 15 million dollars to 15 Nigerian Universities.
MIDAS IT is also conducting a technical workshop to train the universities on the use of the engineering software in designing structures, especially in the area of civil engineering.
At the handover ceremony, which was held at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, in Abuja, the President of NSE, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, said the collaboration, which is in line with the Society’s mission, is aimed at training young Engineers who would lead the profession in the future
She advised the benefiting universities to use the software productively and to ensure that the students transition from academic concepts to real-world applications.
“I would like to emphasize that the future of our profession lies in the hands of our young ones. It is our collective duty to guide, support, and inspire them to rise to their full potential.
“Through structured mentorship and active knowledge-sharing, we can equip the next generation to lead the engineering profession with vision, competence, and excellence.
“As the world continues to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it has become increasingly critical for us as a country to create deliberate pathways for our young innovators to transition from classroom concepts to real-world applications.
“I therefore urge the benefiting universities in this programme to intensify their efforts in closing the gap between academia and industry. By doing so, we will ensure that our engineering graduates are well-prepared to function effectively and confidently in the professional space from the moment they leave the university,” she said.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who was represented by the Director of ICT, Okoro Ikechukwu, said the Ministry would always support any action that strengthens the link between Education, innovation, and industry.
“We are always committed to supporting initiative that strenghtens the linkage between education, innovation, and industry, and of course, to drive our collective vision for a knowledge-based and technology-enabled Nigeria. We are always open for partnerships in this regard,” he said.
The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo, said, “I am particularly pleased to see that this handover is accompanied by a Technical Training Workshop. The best software in the world is useless without skilled hands to operate it.
“This crucial step ensures that the knowledge transfer is complete, empowering our lecturers and coordinators to fully integrate these tools into their curricula for maximum impact.
“The Federal Government’s agenda prioritizes quality infrastructure and local content development and is committed to facilitating a fertile ground for collaboration between industry, government, and academia to advance our technological competitiveness.
“Today’s event is a vibrant demonstration of that commitment,” he said.
The Managing Director, Africa and UAE Region of MIDAS IT, Naga Ravi Anne, emphasised the importance of providing the right tools that would facilitate training for children.
He added that this first stage of donation is focused on supporting civil engineering and that they would consider providing software for mechanical engineering in the next stage.
The Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Mr. Abdulrahman Salawu, on behalf of the 15 universities, promised to use the software effectively, adding that the universities would work towards developing their own software.
Victoria Ibanga/UO