Press Briefing by Engr. Prof. Mohammed B. Ndaliman, MNSE, FNIMechE, National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the occasion of the Launch of the NIMechE Internship and Mentorship on-line Digital Platform, Friday 24th July, 2020 at the NIMechE National Secretariat, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Protocols
I am highly delighted to welcome you all to this briefing leading to the Launching of Nigeria’s first professional Internship and mentorship geared towards developing our young mechanical engineers and students.
The Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) envisions to be the premier Institution for Professional Development, Knowledge Acquisition and Dissemination of Mechanical Engineering and Allied Disciplines in Nigeria. In actualizing this we conduct amongst others, professional training and manpower development of mechanical engineers, technicians, and allied disciples; equip them with relevant skills required for the practice especially in this current era of LOCAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT in Nigeria; unify registered and practicing engineers, technicians, and allied disciplines in the federation; represents NSE in professional matters relating to mechanical engineers and educating the populace on the need to engage professionalism in engineering projects.
Distinguished Guests, gentlemen of the press, the focus of the gathering is on the launch of the NIMechE Internship and Mentorship Platform (NIMP).This is the first African Internship and Mentorship platform; and a project of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) which falls under the umbrella body of the Forging Africa’s Future for Mechanical Engineers (FAFME) aimed at repositioning Mechanical Engineering practice in Africa using Mentorship and Internship to complement the wide theoretical knowledge.
FAFME is an offshoot of the NIMechE Innovation Challenge (NIC) and it is an annual program geared towards deepening and building the capacity of Mechanical Engineering students in providing homegrown innovative solutions to challenges faced in majority of Nigeria’s sector like Agriculture, Security, Health care delivery, Automation and Sustainable energy amongst others.
The project which started in 2017 was held as NIC 1.0 in 2017 and NIC 2.0 in 2018 and is being funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering UK under its GCRF African Catalyst Program. The annual programme drew attendance from over 20 higher institutions across Nigeria and five others from Ghana providing a week-long hands-on practical skills training in various
Mechanical Engineering fields. The program also had training on soft skills in leadership, communication and entrepreneurship which enabled students with entrepreneurial ideas and innovations attach themselves to mentors to help them nurture and develop their ideas.
FAFME is an advancement made on the evaluation of NIC. A key component of the project for Year 2020 is the inclusion of a routine mentorship and internship program for every Mechanical Engineering Students and Graduates aimed at balancing the overwhelming classroom theoretical knowledge they possess.
A program like this is in great need as the cry by organization and industries keeps increasing geometrically about Graduates inability to fit into the organizations’ role of carrying out assigned projects. This is as a result of lack of fundamental technical skills and knowledge needed to fit into these industries and organization thereby rendering them unemployable.
This program will help proffer solutions to these challenges and will also go further in giving them the necessary knowledge needed to harness their skills into building their enterprise.
Further details would be presented by Both the Chairman, FAFME implementation Committee, Engr. Dr. Robinson Ejilah, FNIMechE, and the FAFME Project Director, Engr. Mrs Oduwa Agboneni, FNIMechE.
We thank you for your attention.
Engr. Prof. Mohammed Baba Ndaliman, FNIMechE
National Chairman