Yaba College of Technology Ranked No. 1 in Engineering Education 

By Fadekemi Ajakaiye 

The team from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) emerged as the winners of Nigerian Genius (Campus Edition) 2023, the second edition of the annual national engineering competition organized by Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) in Aba. 

According to a statement, issued by Head, Marketing and Publicity

Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC),   Blessing Eke, the victory ranks Yaba College of Technology as ranked no. 1 in engineering education 2023.

THE NIGERIAN GENIUS 2023

She said the Nigerian Genius National Engineering Competition (Campus Edition) is a prestigious event that brings together Nigeria’s brightest minds in tertiary institutions to solve Nigeria’s most complex engineering and manufacturing challenges. 

In the  competition, she said  students showcase their innovative skills, gain exposure to real-world engineering challenges, and learn from industry experts. The Nigerian Genius competition not only helps to advance engineering education in Nigeria but also contributes to the development of practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership qualities among the participants.

In this year’s edition of the Nigerian Genius, 49 tertiary institutions were shortlisted to participate in the competition, out of which four finalists emerged. The four finalists were: University of Uyo (Team UNIUYO), Yaba College of Technology (Team YABATECH), Ahmadu Bello University (Team ABU), and Federal University of Technology Minna (Team FUTMINNA). These schools were ranked based on their performance in the competition.

1. Yaba College of Technology was ranked No. 1 in engineering education 2023. 

The team also earned a second award for incorporating the most innovative engineering design into their final solution. 

2. Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) was ranked No. 2.

They received the People’s Choice Award. 

3. University of Uyo (UNIUYO) was ranked No. 3

They received the Sustainability Award for using recycled materials in their final solution.

4. Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) was ranked No. 4 

They received the Resilience Award for being the most resilient team. 

This ranking of tertiary institutions at the Nigerian Genius Engineering Competition is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the teams on different criteria including: engineering design and fabrication, teamwork, creativity, analytical thinking, engineering knowledge, problem solving, soft skills, etc.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF NIGERIAN GENIUS

The Nigerian Genius National Engineering Competition was set up to achieve the following objectives:

1. Draw national attention to engineering as a critical part of manufacturing, industrial and national development.
2. Inspire tertiary institutions to improve their engineering education, paying more attention to industry relevant skills and Project Based Learning
3. Equip engineering students with essential industry and manufacturing skills
4. Boost local manufacturing, resulting to employment generation and economic development

PROJECT BASED TRAINING

Through project-based learning approach, finalists of the Nigerian Genius 2023 were trained by industry experts on essential engineering and manufacturing skills such as: Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (3D Printing, CNC machining, laser cutting), Casting, Engineering fabrication (welding, drilling, filling, cutting, tapping, etc.), Embedded systems and problem solving. During the training they produced different products including: adjustable stools, mobile phone chargers, plate racks, chandeliers, etc.

THE CHALLENGE

Few months ago, the Nigerian president declared a state of emergency on food insecurity. The average Nigerian spends over 60% of their income on food, compared to less than 10% in developed nations. Engineers can help solve Nigeria’s biggest problems, including food insecurity. In this second edition of the Nigerian Genius National Engineering Competition, the finalists from four tertiary institutions were given the challenge of solving Nigeria’s food crisis. Within two weeks, they designed and built a farming robot to mechanize and automate farming, scale food production, and secure the lives of farmers. With its ability to perform tasks such as clearing, planting, harvesting, irrigation, surveillance and weather updates, the farming robot has the potential to revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria. This innovation not only addresses food insecurity but also has the potential to uplift the livelihood of farmers and contribute to the overall economic development of the country.

ENGINEERING FOR INDUSTRY (E4I)

The Nigerian Genius is part of Engineering for Industry (E4I), a project implemented by Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) to enable and drive industrialization in Nigeria through capacity building in engineering innovation, indigenous product development, and manufacturing. E4I bridges the skills gap between Nigerian engineering education and the industry, thus enhancing the employability of graduates and facilitating the growth of indigenous industries. E4I also prepare engineering graduates to become successful entrepreneurs, creating indigenous products for Nigeria and international markets. Through E4I project, over 700 engineering students and lecturers across 6 tertiary institutions in Nigeria have been trained while 5 indigenous STEM kits have been developed and used to train 1,290 secondary school students and teachers in Nigeria.

CLINTONEL INNOVATION CENTRE (CIC)

The Nigerian Genius is designed and implemented by Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) – a solar powered STEM Centre, Nigeria’s first Makerspace (Engineering Tech Hub) and Hardware Startup Incubator. Clintonel provides training, mentoring and equipment for young people to create engineering innovations, build indigenous products and start up technology businesses. Hardware Startups incubated by Clintonel are now producing different indigenous products, employing several young persons, and helping to reduce poverty in Nigeria. To build and support the Nigerian hardware ecosystem, Clintonel started Hardware Nigeria Community (HNC) – a national network of Nigerian inventors, engineers, makers, investors, and hardware entrepreneurs working to build hardware products and businesses in Nigeria.

Clintonel is a licensed Autodesk Learning Partner (ALP) and Authorised Testing Centre (ATC) for different International Certifications on Technical and Engineering Skills.

NIGERIAN GENIUS PARTNERS

The Nigerian Genius is supported by ACT Foundation, Engineering X (Royal Academy of Engineering), Autodesk, and Advanced Engineering Centre.