In celebration of Professor Ayodele Francis Ogunye’s 82nd Birthday, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Professor Ayo Francis Ogunye Trust Foundation, University of Lagos (PAFOTFUL) held the 1st edition of the Prof. Ayo Francis Ogunye Chemical Engineering Education Forum on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
The event held at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Conference Hall, located at the Chemical Engineering Department featured a lead paper titled: The State of Chemical Engineering Education in Nigeria. It was delivered by a retired Professor of Chemical Engineering, Prof. Kayode Denloye via zoom.
Prof. Denloye’s presentation placed a spotlight on Chemical Engineering Education in Nigeria vis a vis the introduction of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the anticipated programme outcomes/competencies for the Bachelor of Engineering or Chemical Engineering graduates. He noted that CCMAS would produce engineers with skills essential for the 4th Industrial Revolution such as problem solving, modeling and simulation, leadership and responsibility, information and communication, etc.
While pointing out the unique features of CCMAS as well as requirements for CCMAS resources, Professor Denloye presented a comparative analysis of NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) and CCMAS. He also highlighted the Outcome-Based Engineering (OBE) education by Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); its programme outcomes; learning areas of COREN BMAS; staffing and facilities in universities, funding, accreditation and feedback.
At the end his presentation, Prof. Denloye called for adequate funding for OBE due to its resource-intensive nature, and stressed the need for the OBE curriculum to prepare Nigerian Chemical Engineering graduates for the job market. He urged universities to address fee-related issues to ensure equitable sharing of the burden between students and sponsors, and ensure payment of living wages for lecturers.
The discussants: Director at GTI Group, Engr. David Adeyemo; Prof. Baba Jibril El-Yakubu from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Prof. Philomena Kanwulia Igbokwe from the Chemical Engineering Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra, emphasized the importance of providing more industrial training opportunities for students and staff. They highlighted the need to bridge the gap between academia and industry. They also urged Nigerian universities to take the lead in addressing national challenges, such as power generation and agriculture, and called for the harmonization of BMAS and CCMAS to enhance chemical engineering education quality.
Other comments were entertained from physical and online participants including Professor of Chemical Engineering, Sam Adefila; Principal Consultant and Partner, Avodan Projects and Engineering Services Ltd, Bayo Olarewaju Alo; Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, UNILAG, Dr. Daniel Ayo; and Chief Executive Officer, Matrix Petrochem. Limited, Dr. John Erinne.
In response, the celebrant, Prof. Ayo Francis Ogunye expressed immense joy at the hybrid Forum which had over 120 online participants. The elated scholar and mentor of Vice-Chancellors reflected on his journey in UNILAG and appreciated the remarkable individuals in his life. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Chemical Engineering Department and University as a whole and ensuring that the prizes and grants he established would persist.
The birthday celebration was well attended by the 11th and 12th Vice-Chancellors of the University of Lagos, Professors Rahamon Bello, FAEng, and Temitayo Ogundipe, FAS; immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Oluwole Familoni, FAS; retired Professor of Chemical Engineering at UNILAG, Prof. Biola Kehinde, Dr. John Erinne; acting Head of Department, Dr. Faith Babalola, Dr. Olusiji Adeyanju and other members of the Department, PAFOTFUL and Office of Advancement, UNILAG.
Born July 31, 1942, retired Prof. Ayodele Francis Ogunye is revered as the father of Chemical Engineering in the University of Lagos.
Report: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Photographs: Ayo Oloyede
