The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Abiodun Adebayo, emphasized that the engineering profession plays a central role in shaping any society’s development. He stated that engineers have been instrumental in driving infrastructure development through innovation, which continues to shape the future of the world.
Professor Adebayo made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the inaugural College of Engineering’s International Conference on the Advancement of Engineering Innovation for Sustainable Development (ICAEISD 2024). He officially declared the conference open and highlighted the importance of engineering in addressing both global and local challenges.
He elaborated that engineering has always been at the forefront of technological development, focusing on designing, building, and maintaining the increasingly complex world we live in. The rapid acceleration of educational progress in recent years, he noted, has been greatly influenced by advances in engineering disciplines.
According to Professor Adebayo, this conference is especially important in light of engineering’s growing impact on society and the critical role of sustainable development in addressing the numerous challenges that threaten human existence, such as climate change, hunger, environmental degradation, water scarcity, inequality, and poverty.
He emphasized that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, remain essential in tackling these pressing issues. These goals also align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to reduce poverty and guide Africa onto a sustainable development path, ensuring the continent’s rightful place in the global community.
The SDGs are set to drive economic growth and sustainable infrastructure development over the next six years, with nations worldwide mobilizing efforts and strategies to meet these goals. Professor Adebayo expressed his best wishes to all conference participants, encouraging them to work together to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing society.
In his remarks, the outgoing Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor David Olukanni, noted that rapid technological changes often make investments outdated and sometimes redundant in a short period. He emphasized that engineers must explore new and innovative approaches to problem-solving, focusing on practical and sustainable solutions.
This year’s conference will provide a roadmap for the future, focusing on themes such as sustainable energy technologies, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, sustainable materials, and the built environment.
The Registrar, Mrs. Regina Tobi-David, also highlighted the importance of engineering in addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. She stated that engineering has been the foundation of transformative development, creating solutions that improve quality of life. She emphasized that as the world focuses on sustainable development, innovation must be aligned with environmental preservation for future generations.
Mrs. Tobi-David expressed excitement about the conference as a vital platform for the exchange of ideas, research, and collaborative discussions. She encouraged participants to engage actively, share insights, and build networks to drive impactful change. She noted that the knowledge and partnerships formed during the conference would contribute to engineering solutions for global challenges, from climate change and renewable energy to infrastructure development, all while ensuring safety and equity.
She also commended the organizers of the conference, led by Professor David Olukanni, for their hard work in making the event a reality.
The first keynote speaker, Professor Sadhu Kumar Gosh from India, presented innovative approaches to combating climate change. He shared a successful initiative where schoolchildren were involved in clean-up efforts in India, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. He also discussed an innovation involving the use of watermelons to conduct electricity, as an alternative to carbon-emitting materials. Professor Gosh called for greater use of environmentally friendly, low-carbon materials to advance the sustainability agenda.
The second keynote speaker, Professor Sadiku, highlighted research on biodegradable polymers that could play a significant role in future engineering solutions. His presentation emphasized the potential of these materials to drive more sustainable practices within engineering.
Overall, the conference discussions brought to light critical issues on how to evolve engineering practices that can address climate change challenges and contribute to building a more sustainable society.