Engineering Dean Unveils Vision for Faculty Improvement, Industry Partnership 

By Ayomide Adegboro, Boluwatise O-Oluyomi, Hikmah Adeyemi, Noble Ntiaju

The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Obanishola Mufutau Sadiq, has revealed plans to enhance student development, promote stronger industry partnerships, and improve faculty facilities and infrastructures.

Speaking in an interview with UNILAG Sun, Prof. Sadiq said “Our goal is to produce well-rounded engineers who are technically sound and industry-ready.” 

He emphasised the need to bridge the gap between academia and the industry, noting the faculty’s commitment to providing students with practical skills to meet the demands of the engineering sector.

Prof. Sadiq further highlighted plans to give the faculty a facelift during his tenure as the Dean. According to him, focus areas include renovating the defunct LG laboratory, arranging the littered cables in the compound, improving toilet facilities, and installing solar-powered panels to power the faculty when the power supply is disrupted. 

“We are working on electrifying our departments through the use of inverters and solar sources. It is a successful work in progress as we have only completed certain classrooms and offices. Once that is completed, other buildings and lecture halls will be attended to,” he said.

“Additionally, the LG lab, donated by LG Electronics, collapsed shortly after its launch. It housed over 100 laptops and desktops, which students used for personal work. Unfortunately, no sustainability plan has been put in place to maintain it until now.” 

Regarding toilet renovations, Prof. Sadiq said that they will begin once the requested funds are available. He acknowledged that the current toilet facilities are insufficient for the number of students the faculty accommodates. He also noted that the student bodies have proposed plans to contribute to the provision of additional toilet facilities for the faculty.

“We are currently sourcing funds internally to revive it. The university management has approved some funds for its renovation, and once the process is finalized, work will commence immediately. This will enable our students to fully utilise the facility”, he added

On the importance of the SIWES program and online training in enhancing students’ practical skills, he stated that students would gain practical experience through several industry partnerships currently being worked on.

When asked about the ongoing online lectures and the challenges that have sparked concerns among the students, the dean acknowledged the difficulties with online classes and gave assurance that efforts are being made to ensure the quality of education does not diminish.

In his words, “We are working with technology experts to run practical sessions online and when students return for the physical session, they will already be familiar with the materials.”