It is no more News that Nigeria is ranked as the sixth most populated nation in the world and the most populated in Africa, which is also ranked as the 21st largest economy in the world with respect to her gross domestic product(GDP) and the 20th largest in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), with such a buoyant economy in Africa, she is still ranked as one of the countries with the most unemployed citizens and highest rate of poverty. Poverty, which currently is one of the most prevalent social problem of every nation is on the rise in every African cities and more intensely at the western region.
A nation is said to be poor if more than average of her citizens do not have a certain minimum living standard. Nigeria is not an exception to this common definition. After much research, I came up with a professional idea which can largely help to minimize the effect of high rate of poverty in developing countries such as, Nigeria with support from government, stakeholders, and individuals as an Engineering student.
By definition, Engineering is the branch of science and technology concerned with the application of science in remedying the plenteous need of humans. Developed countries are seen as such today, because of the scientific and technological advancement they have gradually shown. The following are suggested areas where I think as an engineering student, can help to mitigate the adverse effect of poverty in Nigeria.
OUTREACH AND SERVICE
Engineers have a collective responsibility to enhance the lives of people by offering outreach and services to communities, schools and the general public at large. In general, the purposes of outreach and service are to help disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, and to develop internationally responsible engineering students. Projects are initiated by, and completed with, contributions from the host communities, which are then trained to operate the systems without external assistance. The projects are carried out by groups of engineering students under the supervision of professional engineers and faculty.The students select a project and go through all phases of conceptual design, analysis, and construction during the school year; implementation is done during academic breaks and summer months.
Engineers have a collective responsibility to enhance the lives of people by offering outreach and services to communities, schools and the general public at large. In general, the purposes of outreach and service are to help disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, and to develop internationally responsible engineering students. Projects are initiated by, and completed with, contributions from the host communities, which are then trained to operate the systems without external assistance. The projects are carried out by groups of engineering students under the supervision of professional engineers and faculty.The students select a project and go through all phases of conceptual design, analysis, and construction during the school year; implementation is done during academic breaks and summer months.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Engineers are tasked with directly developing new products, or staffed with industrial scientists and tasked with applied research in scientific or technological fields which may facilitate future product development. In either case, Research and development, differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not often intended to yield immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment. To respond to the need for research and development in appropriate technology, Universities are expected to provide a university research environment where teams of undergraduate and graduate students can work under the supervision of faculty and professional engineers to foster the innovation, development, and testing of technologies that can be used to address water, sanitation, energy, shelter, and health issues in Nigeria.
Engineers are tasked with directly developing new products, or staffed with industrial scientists and tasked with applied research in scientific or technological fields which may facilitate future product development. In either case, Research and development, differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not often intended to yield immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment. To respond to the need for research and development in appropriate technology, Universities are expected to provide a university research environment where teams of undergraduate and graduate students can work under the supervision of faculty and professional engineers to foster the innovation, development, and testing of technologies that can be used to address water, sanitation, energy, shelter, and health issues in Nigeria.
EDUCATION
Education is the process of facilitating learning. Knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits of a group of people are transferred to other people, through discussion, teaching, training, or research. Educating engineers to become facilitators of sustainable development, appropriate technology, and social and economic changes represents one of the greatest challenges faced by the engineering profession today. If only Nigerian government would see the essence of properly educating engineering student in our Universities to a high degree of globally acceptable qualifications, then we would be saving the country from many unforseen events.
Education is the process of facilitating learning. Knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits of a group of people are transferred to other people, through discussion, teaching, training, or research. Educating engineers to become facilitators of sustainable development, appropriate technology, and social and economic changes represents one of the greatest challenges faced by the engineering profession today. If only Nigerian government would see the essence of properly educating engineering student in our Universities to a high degree of globally acceptable qualifications, then we would be saving the country from many unforseen events.
conclusively, Creating a sustainable Nigeria that provides a safe, secure, healthy, productive, and sustainable life for all peoples should be the priority for the engineering profession. Engineers have an obligation to meet the basic needs of all humans for water, sanitation, food, health, and energy, as well as to protect cultural and natural diversity. Improving the lives of approximately 180 millions of Nigerian citizens whose main concern is staying alive each day is no longer an option; it is an obligation. The change we need in Nigeria is within us.
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