Experience to remember as CFAO Equipment hosts Olabisi Onabanjo Engineering Students

Few things are more stimulating to typical Engineer-in- training than having first hand experience of industry while they are still undergoing courses leading to award of engineering degree at a university. Indeed, the mind of average young engineers becomes a fertile garden ready to assimilate knowhow provided in the experience and grow it into passionate application. They have been taught in the classroom what an engineering is; and now, they stand in the center of real engineering at work and watch play out in their face.

To most of them just seeing industry for the first time, such experience can be life changing and help in their choice of specialization while, also broadening their perspectives of what had been taught to them in the classroom. It is for this reason that my colleagues and i at Olabisi Onabanjo University, department of Mechanical Engineering organised and embarked on Industrial tours to broaden their horizon and also learn from real time industry.

The tour held under the leadership of Comr. Rabiu Olatunji Yusuf as president of Nigerian Institution of Engineers, NIMechE (Student Chapter) Olabisi Onabanjo University numbering, Forty(40) students from the mechanical engineering department embarked on a field trip to CFAO Equipment on Thursday 21st, October 2021. It was indeed an experience worth remembering as we were exposed to every details such visit could avail us.

From entry point to the exit point, there were activities and briefs. designed to ensure the we have a grasp of basic operations and also take notes. During the tour, we were taken through an induction program upon arriving. At this point, there was safety brief which was both intended to aid the our awareness of safety laws and regulations and compliances.

After the brief ,we received safety kits provided by the company that included safety boots to keep us from stepping in fluids (engine oil, grease), as well as helmets to protect from falling objects.

After observing all safety protocols, my colleagues and I, were led by the supervising engineer to various section within the CFAO Equipment Limited Facilities. We visited several stations within the FUSO truck manufacturing factories.

The following units were among those that we visited: and also had opportunity to see in action while the engineer explained to us in details about various operations:
Station 1: assembling the structure, plumbing, and wiring
Station 2 is where the tires, suspension, and axle are assembled.
Station 3: Balancer and tire wheel assembly
Station 4 includes the exhaust muffler, engine T/M assembly, and the propeller shaft sub assembly.
Station 5: Finished installing the cabin and adding fluid.
Station 6: stand for the can under the floor, the speed, and everything else is tested.
Suspension, brake, lighting, and speedometer tests are all available in the Test Zone.

It is worth noting that we also had with is, Dr.. Aasa Samson, a lecturer in the mechanical engineering department, Olabisi Onabanjo University was our chaperone. We are so grateful for his guide.

My name is Olayinka Hammed Temitope, a 300 Level student of Mechanical Engineering at Olabisi Onabanjo University and General Secretary. I use this privilege to ask more companies to provide this kind of opportunity for students in tertiary institutions. It goes a long way in preparing us for the future and enter into the industry after our schooling.

On behalf of my colleagues, I thank the management of the CFAO Equipment Limited for their magnanimity and looking forward to begin career adventure after my schooling. We are ready to contribute our quota to the engineering. And to all my colleagues who joined the tour, lets take it further! Let’s remember, when it moves, it is mechanical.