Campus News

Yahya tasks Engineering students on innovation

By Bashir Dawodu

A renowned entrepreneur, Dr Suleiman Abimbola Yahya, has urged Engineering students, particularly those of the University of Ilorin, to apply their creativity towards developing machines that would solve real world problems.

 He said that this is important for the students to play active role in national development.

Dr Yahya made this remark penultimate Friday (May 23,2025) while speaking at the 2025 Engineering Projects Exhibition (EPEX) organised by the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA), University of Ilorin Chapter. The programme was themed “Innovative Technologies: Old Problems, New Solutions” and it was held at the University Auditorium.

He urged the students to focus their thinking faculties on building purposeful and practical machines.

Dr Yahya equally encouraged them to shift from conventional thinking patterns and begin to address both existing and emerging engineering challenges.

“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “Think outside the box and use your talents to build what many think is impossible. When you leave this world, you will be remembered for your contributions towards solving human challenges.

He encouraged the students to always task themselves with proffering solutions and building machines that serve one  purpose or the other.”

He also advised NUESA members to make the most of their time, stressing the importance of creativity and innovation in nation building.

Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. J.K. Odusote, expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for the support he gave the Faculty, which made the exhibition possible.

Prof. Odusote, who was represented by the Sub-Dean, Dr M.M Odewole,  paid tribute to the late AbdulHakeem Temitope Abdulrahman, who, along with his team, initiated EPEX in 2014 as a platform for showcasing innovative student engineering projects.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Akanbi AbdulAziz, applauded the students’ ingenuity as he described them as the future problem solvers of Nigeria. He encouraged them to remain committed to their studies and creative pursuits.

In his welcome address, the NUESA President, Mr Ajileye Tobiloba, described EPEX as one of the most impactful exhibitions contributing to national development. He praised the dedication of participating students from various universities across Nigeria.

Participating institutions included Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; the University of Ibadan; and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, among others.

At the end of the competition, Team AfroVax from the University of Ilorin clinched first position with a cash prize of ₦300,000 while Team Mechtron Tech. from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, took the second position with ₦200,000, while Team PondIQ, also from the University of Ilorin, secured the third place and a ₦100,000 prize.

Dignitaries in attendance included Prof. H.A. Ajimotokan, Dr Zainab Yakub, Dr O.A. Otueze, Dr Temi Kolawole, and Engineer T.O. Olanrewaju, among others.