Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing engineering education by strengthening the link between academic research and industrial application to support national development.
NSE President Margaret Oguntala stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), a national talent development initiative targeting tertiary institutions.
The Olympiad is designed to discover and develop engineering innovation capable of addressing the country’s needs in infrastructure, manufacturing, sustainability, energy transition and digital technology, while nurturing job-creating engineers and globally competitive innovators.
The programme is organised by Enactus Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company, and First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P).
Oguntala said developing new ideas remains central to technological and socio-economic progress.
She said: “As the foremost engineering professional body, NSE believes that the ideation of new ideas is critical for professional development and community impact.
“Every great invention in history began with an idea. All the transformations humanity has seen from the steam engine, to towering skyscrapers, electricity, internet, and artificial intelligence started as ideas acted upon.
“Ideas do shape the world. The power of ideas in transforming societies cannot be overemphasised; indeed, great nations have stood on the shoulders of men and women of ideas to advance growth and development.”
She added that Nigeria has a growing pool of talent waiting to be developed.
“Nigeria is brimming with such creative minds in our universities. In our quest to turn technological development as a nation, NEO offers a dynamic platform for students to unleash innovative capacity,” she noted.
She urged government institutions, academia, industry leaders and the media to prioritise and sustain support for the initiative.
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Omatsola Ogbe, said the Olympiad aligns with the Federal Government’s policy drive for indigenous innovation and industrial competitiveness. Ogbe was represented by Abayomi Bamidele, Director of Capacity Building.
He highlighted ongoing capacity development programmes in petroleum engineering, robotics, digital technology and advanced technical fields.
Ogbe expressed concern over the widening competency gap among engineering graduates.
He noted that: “Industry surveys showed not less than 79 per cent of engineering graduates lacked practical and hands-on competencies aligned with global standards — a challenge that must be addressed urgently.”
According to him, the shortfall has resulted in reliance on expatriates and continued brain drain.
“Nigeria has a population exceeding 237 million people, nearly half of West Africa, yet only about 5 per cent of our engineering graduates are industry ready at graduation.
“This Olympiad provides a structured pathway to identify and support young innovators who can design solutions for our national challenges,” he added.
Enactus Nigeria Country Director, Michael Ajayi, said sustainable national impact depends on strong collaboration between government, private sector and civil society.
Ajayi said:“This partnership proves that when we combine policy support, private-sector systems, and nonprofit expertise, we can deliver transformational impact not just for individuals, but for entire industries.
“Olympiad’s objectives include encouraging students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life problem-solving and enabling them to build engineering-driven businesses that generate jobs and wealth.”
The Olympiad will run for seven months and will include regional contests, prototype development, mentorship, and a national grand finale scheduled for April 2026.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by Ebiho Agun, and the President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Dr. Adebisi Osim. The event also featured the unveiling of the NEO website.
