By Isqil Najim
Sheu Ibrahim Atilola is like every other young engineers who was studying to have his future all sort out. Like a few young engineers, he has a dream and this burning dream has driven him as a student all the way to develop a passion for sustainability and climate. While pursuing his passion, he subsequently found that when one is prepared opportunity is not far away. Now he can kick-start is vision of
At the ongoing NYSC camp, in camp in Ebonyi State, he entered his idea at the Accesspreneurship Business Pitch Competition under Access bank Plc. His project, EcoFreeze Optimizer fetched him third place in the competition.
Accesspreneurship Business Pitch Competition under Access bank Plc, is a competition amongst 30 corp members from the 10 platoons on camp in Ebonyi State. It’s an avenue to pitch your business idea and how it can solve the immediate environmental problems. It provides early finance and mentorship to young entrepreneurs with a view to making them self-reliant and employment creators.
Sheu emerged as the second runner up winning a sum of Four Hundred Thousands Naira (400, 000) for the effort and another 50, 000 naira for winning the Twitter challenge regarding making a post a Twitter to tell the world about the business and innovation.
During his final year, Sheu I worked on Modelling and simulation of a solar-thermal assisted vapour compression refrigeration system. After the project, he redeveloped an existing model by Erinfolami Yusuf, his colleague at the University of Ilorin. Under the supervision of Dr. Abdulkarim Baba Rabiu and Dr. Olalekan Tajudeen Popoola.
During the external examination of the department, the Examiner from Ladoke Akintola University said “you really amazed me with the wonderful presentation, well done. This is a wonderful project”
During the Induction into Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, NIMechE Ilorin Chapter, as Graduate Member Sheu was awarded the award of the Best Project Presentation.
According to Sheu, a recent graduate of mechanical Engineering from university of ilorin, the EcoFreeze Optimizer presents a pioneering solution for Nigerian households, offering a
cost-effective means to cut electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in
traditional refrigerators.
It’s an attachment connected to our traditional refrigerators and it targets a market in need of energy-efficient and affordable solutions. It’s a business and innovation that promote SDG 7, clean and affordable energy and SDG13, climate actions.
As a young graduate, his passion for HVAC Systems and also decarbonization of the environment through HVAC systems, is astounding. I can remember by frst contact with him was on social media. The first discussion he held with me was how can he develop his passion in HVAC within NIMechE. I told him, then that things will shape up if he focused on his mission. He attended one of the workshops organised by NIMechE National at the time.
Sheu has interests in Smart and Connected Buildings, Grid Interactive HVAC & R Systems, Decarbonization, Modelling and Simulation, Integrated building energy and control systems design.
he holds Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Thermofluid and Energy)
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria where he graduated on October 23, 2023 with Grade: 4.43/5.00 || WES: 3.68/4.00
His favourite coursewars are: Thermodynamics and Advanced Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics I & II, Energy Conversion, Systems, Heat and Mass Transfer, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Dynamics, Control Theory, Applied Programming, Language, Gas Dynamics and Turbomachinery, Engineering Mathematics I, II, III, & IV.
His research experience includes; Modelling and Simulation of a Solar-Thermal Assisted Vapour Compression Refrigeration System with MATLAB/SIMULUNK 2022-2023; Undergraduate Project – Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Lab, University of Ilorin; Design and Development of a Solar-Thermal Assisted Vapour Compression Refrigerator 2022-2023; Dr. O. T. Popoola Research Group – Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Lab, University of Ilorin (where he was involved in Designed and fabricated the flat plate collector to be incorporated into the system, Tested the system and analyzed the result using statistical packages. and Performance Simulation and Optimization of a Two-Bed Silica Gel-Water Adsorption Chiller 2022-2023; Dr. A. B. Rabiu Research Group – Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Lab, University of Ilorin (where he was involved in, Reviewed Literatures on the existing adsorption chiller, Collected data from existing experimental projects, Developed a mathematical model using empirical lumped analytical simulation in MATLAB, Validated the simulation results with the experimental data obtained and Analyzed the performance parameters for optimization, Mathematical Modelling and Simulation of Thermal Performance of a Solar-Thermal Refrigerator with Multiple Linear Regression) 2023; The Current State and Future Prospects of Using Hydrogen as Fuel in Internal Combustion Engine 2023.
Despite the academyc workloads, Sheu has equipped himself a series of skills at his extra time. Among them are: Programming Essentials in Python Jan, 2023, MATLAB 2018 Essential Training May, 2022, Introduction to Data Science May, 2022, Fundamentals of HVAC design Jan, 2022, Getting Started with Data Enterprise Oct, 2021, Advanced Certification in AutoCAD 2D and 3D Aug-Oct, 2020, Softrays Institute of Technology, Ilorin, Kwara State, Fundamentals of Machine Learning with Python August, 2020, Python for Data Science July, 2020, Python For Beginners June- Aug, 2018, Introduction to Autodesk Inventor June-Aug, 2018
He is proficient in the use of Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk AutoCAD, Solidworks, Simulation: ANSYS FLUENT, MATLAB, SIMULINK, Programming: Python, MATLAB, Data Analysis and Visualization: NumPy, Pandas, Seaborn, Matplotlib, HVAC: AutoCAD MEP, DAIKIN VRV SELECTION, HAP
Not to young to explore, Sheu has participated International Conferences where he actively immensed himself in activities. He was at the 35th International Conference & Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, (theme: “Advances in Communication and Digital Technologies and Its Impact on Mechanical Engineering Education and Practices.”) held at International Conference Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria, October 17th – 20th ,2022.
He has contributed to engineering through his students membership on campus. He served as the Chief Coordinator NiMechE Design Challenge (National competition), 2023; Technical Director , Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, NiMechE-Unilorin, 2023; Faculty Quiz Chairman, Nigerian Universities Engineering Students’ Association, 2023; Academic Mentor, National Society of Black Engineers, University of Ilorin, 2023; CADS Instructor , Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, NiMechE-Unilorin, 2023; President, ASHRAE University of Ilorin Student Branch, 2022-2023; Co-chairman , Engineering Project Exhibition, (EPEX 22/23, National Competition), 2022-2023; Technical and Project Director National Association of Muslim Engineering and Technology Students (NAMETS), 2022-2023; Class Governor, Mechanical Engineering (Thermofluid) Class of 2022, 2021-2023; Assistant Project Director, Community Based Experience Scheme, 2022
• ASHRAE University of Ilorin Student Branch, Acting President 2022
As a student, Sheu has found hobbies in teaching. Some of the areas he has ventured into are: Advanced Physics Tutor (Heat, Thermodynamics and Optics), at Young Shall
Grow Educational Consult, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria (2018-2023) where he achieved, along with his team Increased the passing rate of over 100 A-level students by 20% by tutoring and mentoring them while preparing for their A-level exam; Experimental Physics Instructor, A-Plus Educational Consult, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria (2019-2023), where coached and guided over 200 A-level students in preparing them for qualifying examination into higher institution of learning; Undergraduate Tutorial Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Ilorin (2019-2023) where he conducted tutorial classes on Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer for over 100 3rd year students of the department that resulted in 70% success.
He is a Member, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 2022 -Present, Graduate Member, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NiMechE) 2022 -Present, Student member, American Society of Quality (ASQ-Unilorin) 2022, Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) 2021, Member, Nigeria Society of Black Engineers (NSBE-Unilorin) 2021, Member, Blacks In Technology (BIT) 2021, Member, Data Science Nigeria (DSN) [DSN/AIPlus2020/14703] 2020.
For his hardworks and commitments, Sheu was a recipient of many awards such as the MTNF Scholarship for Science and Technology Students (US $751.10) Jan, 2022-Present; Distinguished Service Award,Most Industrious, Faculty Award, Nigerian Universities Engineering Students’ Association 2023, AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, Nigerian Universities Engineering Students’ Association (NUESA) 2023, National Award Winner, ASHRAE-NIGERIA Soft-skill Competition 2023, Lafarge/RIDSCO Bursary award (US $62.59) 2022, Finalist, American Society of Quality EMEA Student Competition 2022, Most Reputable student of the year, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2021, Winner, ASHRAE UNILAG quiz competition (US $20) 2021, Most Reputable Male Student, Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2019
Th future is indeed bright for a child who is read to step into the ring and Sheu is ready. he can be reached at [email protected], LinkedIn