By Emma Elebeke

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) Abuja have concluded a 5-week training programme on Advanced Materials Science, Nano-technology, computer aided designs  Mechatronics, advance manufacturing and innovation techniques.

The training was part of efforts to bridge the digital gap existing in today Nigeria’s industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as build a critical mass of manpower to make modern technology transformation possible using advanced manufacturing technology(AMT).

AMT is a modern method of production involving highly automated and sophisticated computerized designs and production operational systems. AMT aims at manufacturing high quality products at low cost within the shortest delivery time.

It can also be described as the insertion of new technology innovations, improved processes, and management methods to improve the manufacturing of products, while ‘Micro-electromechanical systems’ (MEMS), another word for  mechatronics technology, can be regarded as a highly miniaturized device or array of devices combining electrical and mechanical components that is fabricated using integrated circuit batch-processing techniques.

The aim of the five week training program which was under the auspices of NASENI Center of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Materials funded by the World Bank assisted STEP-B  Project was to develop manpower to sustain the development of  Centre of Excellence  and to fast-track the implementation of the training component of the Centre through collaborations with AUST, to fast-track the deliverables of STEP-B Project, to train critical mass of manpower for the Center and to gain advantages of AUST’s strength in building the NASENI Centre of Excellence using Public-Private-Partnership while deriving benefits of  AUST’s collaborations with outside Nigeria in order to bring best global best practices to bear on the mandate areas of NASENI’s Centre of Excellence facilities.

The program  which had in attendance about seventy (70) participants selected from different government science and technology agencies would also introduce participants to new areas of manufacturing, such as micro and nano computation, hands-on as well as theory behind the fields such as computer aided design and manufacturing, mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, so that energy organs can excel.

According to the President/Provost of the  African University of Science and Technology, AUST, Professor Wole Soboyejo, while addressing the media at the end of the five week long program said “What we tried to do in the last 5 weeks, is to provide not only theoretical messages, but hands-on practicals. We have also  engaged our people in Nigeria to understand how to innovate.

“As you know innovation is not a new science and technology, but new ways of thinking and doing things, and we are engaging the participants in the process of doing this in a sustainable way. So, we are looking at the sustainable materials system manufacturing in hands-on- experiences to create a new generation of trainers that can then go out and train other people.”