By Steve Oko

Leading engineers, policymakers, and industry experts have called for urgent, innovation-driven reforms to address Nigeria’s growing challenges in national security, food systems, energy, and economic development.

The call was made at the 4th International Engineering Conference (IECON) organised by the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The conference, themed “Engineering Innovations for a Resilient and Sustainable National Security, Food Value Chain, Energy, and Economic Advancement,” attracted over 1,200 participants and featured 122 scholarly papers.

Participants identified weak infrastructure, poor mechanisation, inadequate research funding, and limited collaboration between academia, government, and industry as major barriers to national development.

They noted that Nigeria’s food value chain remains plagued by post-harvest losses, poor storage systems, and low adoption of modern technologies, “while the energy sector continues to suffer from low generation capacity, inefficient distribution, and over-reliance on non-renewable sources.”

On security, the conference stressed that engineering innovation is critical to strengthening surveillance systems, cyber defence, and protection of critical national assets.

Chairman of the conference and Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prof. Joel Ogbonna, urged participants to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy and food security challenges.

In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Ursula Akanwa, challenged stakeholders to move beyond theoretical discussions and translate research outcomes into actionable solutions through cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director/CEO of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mark Okoye, emphasised that national development must be deliberately engineered through strategic planning and innovation.

Technical sessions featured presentations on smart agriculture, mechanisation, and precision farming, with experts advocating a shift from traditional practices to technology-driven systems to boost food security and resilience.

Later in a communique, the conference recommended the establishment of dedicated innovation funds, increased private sector participation through incentives, and periodic review of engineering curricula.

It also recommended investment in infrastructure such as innovation hubs and fabrication laboratories.

The communique was signed by Engr. Prof. Bethrand Nwankwojike; Dean, College of Engineering and
Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Engr. Prof. Patrick Obi; and Chairman, Technical Committee, Engr. Dr Augustine Igbozulike.

Awards were presented to notable contributors in engineering and technology, including Mark Okoye, Engr. Lois Onyejere Nwobodo, Engr. P. O. Ogbobe, Prof. J. C. Adama, Engr. Valerie Agberagba, and others.

The conferees called for collective action among stakeholders to harness engineering innovations in building a resilient, secure, and economically vibrant Nigeria.