FETICON 2026: Scholars, industry experts advocate innovation-driven solutions for sustainable development
By Mustafa Abubakar
Experts in Engineering, Technology and innovation have called for the deployment of sustainable technologies, resilient infrastructure and innovation-driven policies to address Africa’s developmental challenges and accelerate economic growth.
The experts made the call last Monday (June 1, 2026) at the 4th Faculty of Engineering and Technology International Conference (FETICON 2026) held at the University Auditorium, where participants from academia, industry and government converged to deliberate on the theme, “Innovating for a Sustainable and Resilient Future: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Development.”
Presenting one of the keynote addresses, the Managing Director, Protogy Global Services Ltd, Ibadan, Engr Agoro Ademola Isaac, stressed that engineering innovation has remained the driving force behind every major leap in human civilisation and must continue to play a central role in shaping a future that is sustainable, resilient and economically inclusive.
Engr Agoro explained that advances in Artificial Intelligence, digital technologies and energy storage systems are transforming industries and creating new possibilities for economic growth and societal development.
According to him, “Technology will not replace humanity, but nations that fail to innovate may struggle to compete in the emerging global economy.”
He noted that modern economies are facing severe pressure from urbanisation, inefficient industrial systems, overloaded energy networks and deteriorating infrastructure, arguing that traditional systems are no longer sufficient to meet future demands.
Engr Agoro described sustainability as the ability to meet present needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs, while resilience refers to the ability of systems to absorb shocks, recover and continue functioning during periods of disruption.
Highlighting the role of technology in economic development, he noted that digital infrastructure now serves as the backbone of modern economies and is critical to productivity growth across various sectors.
He identified agriculture, finance, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and manufacturing as sectors that could benefit significantly from technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, smart grids, fintech solutions, telemedicine and Internet of Things (IoT) systems.
He urged engineers and researchers to move beyond theoretical investigations and focus on applied deployment, decentralised infrastructure systems, multidisciplinary collaboration and practical solutions capable of addressing local challenges.
In another keynote presentation, renowned Ethiopian scholar and innovation expert, Prof. Daniel Kitaw of Addis Ababa University, challenged African universities to become active drivers of technological transformation and economic development rather than passive consumers of global innovations.
Prof. Kitaw observed that Africa would require approximately 450 million new jobs within the next 25 years, while Nigeria alone would need more than 30 million additional jobs to accommodate its growing population.
He further warned that climate change could cost African economies between six and nine per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually by 2050 if proactive measures are not taken.
Using recent experiences such as devastating floods and persistent energy poverty as examples, Prof. Kitaw argued that Africa must transform vulnerability into innovation-driven growth through strategic investments in science, technology and innovation.
Tracing global technological evolution through the four industrial revolutions, he noted that Africa currently possesses a unique window of opportunity to leapfrog developmental stages and accelerate industrialisation through digital technologies and innovation ecosystems.
Speaking on Nigeria’s renewable energy potential, the Ethiopian don observed that many regions of the country receive average daily solar radiation of about 5.5 kilowatt-hours per square metre, creating enormous opportunities for solar energy development.
Prof. Kitaw advocated the adoption of hybrid renewable energy systems, Artificial Intelligence-based forecasting technologies and blockchain-enabled energy trading platforms as pathways for expanding energy access and creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs.
According to him, innovation-driven agricultural practices could position Nigeria as a net food exporter within the next decade.
Prof. Kitaw also presented the University of Ilorin’s Science, Technology and Innovation Park (UNILORIN-STIP) as a strategic platform for promoting entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, industrial partnerships and innovation-driven development.
He explained that the initiative seeks to transform the University into an entrepreneurial institution through the establishment of technology parks, incubation centres, science parks and industry-academia collaboration frameworks.
The scholar disclosed that the vision includes making the University of Ilorin a continental centre of excellence in sustainable innovation by 2030.
Calling for collective action, Prof. Kitaw urged academic Departments, researchers, students, industry leaders and policymakers to work together in building an innovation ecosystem capable of addressing Africa’s developmental needs.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Etudaye, described Engineering as the backbone of sustainable development, stressing that no nation has attained meaningful progress without a vibrant Engineering sector.
According to him, Nigeria’s developmental aspirations require both conventional engineering approaches and innovative adaptive solutions capable of responding to emerging realities.
According to the Vice Chancellor, “Our country faces challenges, some of which we have dealt with for decades, while others are emerging challenges. We need not only traditional engineering solutions but also new adaptive solutions to address them.’’
Prof. Egbewole noted that the Faculty of Engineering and Technology has continued to contribute significantly to the growth and reputation of the University through the quality of graduates it produces and the impact of its research activities.
Highlighting the growing relevance of technology in addressing security concerns, he cited the increasing deployment of drone technology for surveillance and emergency response operations.
“We have suddenly realised that the place of drones has moved from entertainment and recording ceremonies to actually saving lives through security surveillance and other critical operations. Engineering stands at the core of this,” he added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Prof. Temitope Elizabeth Odetoye, disclosed that the Conference attracted more than 300 accepted research papers from scholars and professionals across different disciplines.
“It gladdens my heart that the carefully selected theme for FETICON 2026 has attracted over 300 high-quality accepted papers. The expected outcomes are to promote sustainable and innovative solutions for economic development in our countries and globally,” she said.
Prof. Odetoye described the conference as a strategic platform for collaboration among researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, expressing optimism that the deliberations would generate practical ideas capable of transforming industries and creating employment opportunities.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye, said the institution is prioritising the commercialisation of research outputs to ensure that academic innovations translate to real-life solutions that benefit society.
According to him, discussions at the Conference focused on critical areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, cybersecurity, smart energy systems, healthcare technologies, alternative transportation fuels and advanced materials.
Prof. Olaoye said, “This year’s theme reflects our shared responsibility to innovate within our context and leverage homegrown ideas and tools for long-term impact.”
“Our research and innovations must not only contribute to academic knowledge but it must also have practical applications that impact society. The aim is to create pathways for the commercialisation of academic projects, driving economic growth and societal progress,” he said.
Delivering the vote of thanks, FETICON Secretary, Dr Suleiman Abimbola Yahaya, commended participants, sponsors and industry partners for supporting the conference objectives.
“We hope that the ideas shared, collaborations built and innovations discussed here will translate to practical solutions that advance sustainable development, industrial growth, economic resilience and national transformation,” Yahaya said.
In his remarks, Dr M. S. Sanusi, Head of the Food Engineering Department and Chairman of the FETICON 2026 Publicity Committee, described the conference as highly successful, marked by insightful presentations, stimulating discussions and impressive participation from academia, industry and government stakeholders.
Dr Sanusi said, “The Conference has provided an excellent platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and collaboration. The quality of contributions and level of engagement have been truly remarkable.”
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by participants and the richness of ideas shared today. FETICON 2026 is already setting the stage for impactful partnerships and innovative solutions to contemporary challenges,” he added.
The Conference featured keynote presentations from renowned Engineering scholars from Ethiopia and the United States, alongside technical sessions, exhibitions and networking engagements designed to strengthen technology-driven development initiatives across the continent.
Participants agreed that innovation, strategic partnerships, research commercialisation and technology-driven solutions remain indispensable for addressing contemporary challenges and unlocking Africa’s vast development potential.
The conference also reaffirmed the commitment of the University and its partners to advancing sustainable development through Engineering, Technology and Innovation.
