By Alumona Ukwueze
NSUKKA —-The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, has urged universities to intensify research in renewable energy, smart systems and indigenous technologies to guarantee sustainable engineering practice in the era of Artificial Intelligence, AI.

The Minister who said that sustainable engineering practice in the era of AI requires collective and coordinated efforts, equally called on engineers to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to prioritize local solutions.

He made the call, weekend , during his keynote address at the 21st Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture, HMML, tittled “Sustainable Engineering Practice for National Development: Innovative Solutions and Technological Advancement in an AI Era,” at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN.

He also enjoined students to embrace creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in today’s evolving world in order to remain relevant.

The Minister who was represented by the Director General of Projects Development Institute, PRODA, Enugu State, Dr. Okwudili Ogbobe, further stated engineering must evolve beyond “concrete and steel,” to embrace innovation by harnessing emerging technologies to solve complex challenges.

He equally stated that engineering must remain people-centered, delivering solutions that are inclusive, affordable and responsive to our unique national context.

” Across the globe, AI is reshaping agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and education. For Nigeria, the opportunities are immense: smart farming techniques that boost food security, predictive healthcare systems that saves lives, intelligent energy grids that stabilize power supply, and digital platforms that make governance more transparent and efficient.

“However, these opportunities are not without challenges. We must contend with ethical concerns surrounding data privacy, the risk of job displacement, and the urgent need to invest in digital infrastructure and human capital,” he said.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, stated that the HMML was started in 1980 by the Faculty of Engineering to honour Macaulay, who he described as a visionary engineer, architect, surveyor, and foremost nationalist.

He further said that the HMML biennial lecture series was instituted to showcase the multifaceted legacy of Macaulay, who is widely regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism, and to inspire contemporary engineers, surveyors, architects and other professionals to emulate his exemplary career in order to leave enduring positive legacies on the society.

Equally in his address, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNN, Prof. Ikechukwu Ezema, while stating that the topic of the lecture was timely, added that Nigeria is standing at a cross-road between tradition and transformation, adding that the ingenuity of engineers must align with the demands of sustainability, national growth and the disruptive power of AI.

He further said that in order to ensure sustainable engineering practice, engineers must design solutions that endure and respect our environment for human upliftment. He further said that AI must be harnessed, not as replacement of human creativity , but as catalyst for innovation, efficiency and resilience.

Delivering the 21 HMML Lecture, Mr Alex Onyia, an Engineer, and Chief Executive Officer of Educate Technologies Ltd, urged Nigeria Universities to embrace AI and digital learning as a way to move the country forward as well as enable our students to complete favourably with their counterparts globally.

Onyia alleged that most Ph.D thesis in Nigeria universities are only good for the shelves because they have not been deployed to solve a particular societal problems, this was even as he urged lecturers and education stakeholders to discourage rote learning and much emphasis on certificate.

“The era of rote learning and mere certificate acquisition over practical skill is over as the world today is driven by digital revolution, AI automation, and a shift toward skills-based learning.

“Modern employers demand demonstrable problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and applied knowledge.

“If we can not produce in Nigeria, we can design and produce in China, remember the concept of dual SIM card phone was okey designed in Nigeria and produced in China.

“I pray that this 21st HMML will give birth to the greatest transformation that has ever happened in the engineering faculty,” he said