Why African, Russian varsities must focus on training of engineers —TAU VC

Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese, Professor Francisca Oladipo, says African and Russian universities must focus on the training of engineers.

She spoke on Tuesday at the Academic Session for Russian and African Rectors held at Saint Petersburg Mining University, Russia.

A statement by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor said the forum was part of the Second Russia-Africa Raw Materials Dialogue.

The statement, which said Oladipo was the only Nigerian vice-chancellor on the speakers’ programme, quoted her as saying that the training of engineers should remain the centre of cooperation in the minerals sector.

According to the statement, Oladipo’s presentation was entitled: ‘From Ore to Engineer: Nigeria’s Engineering Education System and the Partnership it Invites’.

The statement further quoted her as saying that 122 of Nigeria’s 328 universities now offer accredited engineering education.

She said 52 of the institutions had attained Outcome-Based Education accreditation, while the national register had 101,393 engineering practitioners.

Oladipo said that with Nigeria a provisional signatory to the Washington Accord since 2023 and Russia a full signatory since 2012, the two countries already had a common accreditation language.

This, she said, indicated a firm foundation for joint degrees, credit transfer and mutual recognition.

The vice-chancellor also drew attention to the gap between the supply of engineering professionals and national needs, particularly among technicians and technologists.

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Oladipo said this was happening at a time when Nigeria’s value-addition policy was bringing lithium processing and steel production home.

Recalling that the Ajaokuta Steel Company was built with Soviet partners in 1979, Oladipo said: “Infrastructure can be imported, but capability must be grown.

“Africa’s minerals will be processed somewhere. The question is who will be trained to do it.”

She proposed a joint partnership between Russian and African universities for postgraduate training in minerals processing and metallurgy.

Oladipo also called for intelligent mining built on trusted African-owned data, as well as stronger pathways for technicians and technologists.