Group photograph of Engineers at the 2025 Annual Public Lecture at Effurun, Delta State.
By Odeya Ogbetuo
The Federal Government has been tasked by Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Automotive and Locomotive Engineers institution to revive the local manufacturing through sustainable energy solutions. The body stated this at Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area Delta State during the 2025 Annual public lecture. According to the group, Nigeria’s economy is poor due to epileptic power supply to the industry and individuals venture in the country. The group argued that with constant power supply, there would be speedy growth and development through manufacturing and industrial growth.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National of the group who doubled as the Chairman of the occasion, Engr Alhasan A. Mohammed said, there is need for the government to urgently increase power generation and supply to industry and homes to speed up economic growth in the country.The National Chairman who was represented by Engr. U.P Nzurumike Ugochuku said, Engineers play vital roles as they help to shape the country’s future. While appropriating the organizers of the programme for the public lecture as regards their ingenuity, Engr Mohammed said, they are poised to design and implement technology to put country’s economy in the path of progress.
His words:”The narrative has to change. Nigerian engineers are ready to be at the forefront of our technological development if the government gives the necessary support. We are ready to serve our country with our knowledge and skills to improve on technology and economic development of Nigeria. We shall not relent in our duty and roles to accelerate the development”. He assured that the resolutions from the lectures would be communicated to the right Government’s authorities and the Nigerian Society of Engineers to help improve on the technological advancement of the country.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of NImechE, Warri Chapter, Engr. Victor Uruemesiri Olokpa said that reviving local manufacturing through sustainable energy solutions in Nigeria will be a positive catalyst to Nigerian economy. According to him, with good government’s policies and support, there would be sustainable energy for local manufacturing which would pave way for speedy growth of the economy.
On his part, the Chairman of AutoEI Warri, Chapter, Engr. Dr. Joseph A. Momoh said, the programme would yield the desired result as regards local manufacturing as it would help provide energy solutions.In his lecture, the Rector of Global Maritime Academy, Dr. Ofurumazi Righteousness Pereowei said, the Nigerian manufacturing landscape has been characterized by low capacity utilization, which fluctuates between 52% and 55% across sectors according to MAN, 2023. According to him, in spite of this, Nigeria possesses immense potentials to reposition local manufacturing as catalyst for economic transformation adding that, with Nigeria having a population of over 220 million people, can provide good market for locally made products. His words: The National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2022-2030 and the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) signal a renewed focus on revitalizing industrial capacity.”
According to him, some of main sources of energy that can be of help in industry in Nigeria include: Solar Energy, Biomass Energy, Wind Energy, Hybrid Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency and Waste Recovery among others. He said, some of the benefits of sustainable energy include cost savings, emission reductions, energy reliability and high initial capital cost.
In his lecture,Engr. Prof. David Samuel Olusegun of Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) said, there is lack of strategic application in reviving local manufacturing. According to him, Nigeria’s industrial base is constrained by unsustainable energy costs, unreliable power supply and outdated infrastructure which have led to low capacity utilization and reduced competitiveness and therefore called for an urgent need to adopt sustainable energy solutions in this regard.
Present at the ceremony include: Engr. E. Emuesiri Idibie, Engr. Moses Emonena Yahaya, Engr. Victor Uruemesiri Olokpa, Engr. Patricia Ogun, Engr. Lucky Erus Akporehe, Engr. Cosmas Ukuaba, Engr. Felix Esegbona, Engr. Thomas Unuane, Engr. Dr. Grace Erimoma, Engr. Tonbra Eyitemi, Engr. Good luck T.A Owhodo among others.