By Alumona Ukwueze

The President of the University of Nigeria Engineering Faculty Alumni Association (UNNEFAA), Engr. Emmanuel Ezekwe, has called on Nigerian engineers to focus on solving real-world problems through innovative solutions that drive the nation’s economic and social development.

Ezekwe made the call on Wednesday in Nsukka while delivering the keynote address at the joint seminar/workshop organised by UNNEFAA, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the Renewable Energy and Environmental Research Group (BREEEG).

The seminar, themed “Beyond the Classroom: Research Innovation and Digital Transformation for Young Engineers,” was designed to equip lecturers, postgraduate students, final-year students, and young engineering graduates with practical knowledge on academic excellence, industry readiness, research funding, innovation commercialisation, entrepreneurship, and related areas.

Speaking on “Beyond the Classroom: Preparing Engineers for Leadership, Innovation and Impact in a Rapidly Changing World,” Ezekwe urged engineers to move beyond classroom theories and apply their expertise to addressing pressing societal challenges such as healthcare access, food security, and climate adaptation.

According to him, the engineering profession is evolving rapidly due to advances in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, automation, renewable energy, globalisation, and changing workforce demands.

He noted that academic qualifications alone are no longer enough to guarantee professional success, stressing the need for engineers to acquire broader competencies that enable them to adapt, innovate, lead, and create value beyond traditional technical roles.

“Engineers should focus on solving real-world problems, creating impactful innovations, and contributing to economic and social development,” he said.

Ezekwe also advocated curriculum reforms and encouraged students, researchers, academics, and young professionals to embrace lifelong learning, collaboration, innovation, and service.

He stressed the need for stronger partnerships between academia, industry, entrepreneurs, and society to produce graduates who are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs and opportunities for others.

“I urge participants to look beyond the classroom and position themselves as future leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers capable of driving sustainable development and technological transformation in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond,” he added.

In another presentation, Prof. Alon Razgour, Head of the Industrial Technology and Innovation Unit at ACE-SPED, spoke on “From Laboratory to Marketplace: The Role of Incubation Hubs in Engineering Innovation.” He explained how scientific and engineering research can be transformed into commercially viable products through incubation, covering concept development, prototyping, user-centred design, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and market deployment.

Also speaking, Prof. Wilfred Okonkwo, Head of Unit and Principal Investigator at BREEEG, delivered a paper titled “Winning Research Grants: Strategies for Young Academics and Researchers.” He provided participants with practical strategies for writing competitive research proposals and successfully securing grants in an increasingly competitive funding environment.

Earlier, the Director of ACE-SPED, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, said the seminar was aimed at preparing young engineers, researchers, academics, and graduates for excellence in academia, industry, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven development.

According to him, the programme seeks to inspire participants—particularly final-year and postgraduate students—to become globally competitive professionals capable of developing sustainable engineering solutions, conducting impactful research, building innovative businesses, and advancing transformative technologies across Nigeria and Africa.

Ejiogu commended UNNEFAA and BREEEG for their collaboration and support, as well as the University of Nigeria management for providing the enabling environment to host the event.

The highlight of the seminar was the presentation of a recognition award by UNNEFAA to Prof. Michael Onyia, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), UNN, in recognition of his emergence as the first alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering to occupy the office in the university’s history.

The event was co-chaired by Engr. Prof. Arthur Ekwue and Engr. Prof. Samuel Enibe, both distinguished alumni of the UNN Faculty of Engineering.