BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Nigerian automaker Innoson Group is expanding its commitment to education by building a new automobile engineering center and hostel at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Igbariam, Anambra State.
The announcement was made by Lady Chiamaka Ibekwe, a representative of Innoson Ciara Automobile Academy at the opening ceremony of the University’s 5th International Conference on Economy Adaptation and Policy Reforms for Industrial Development (ICEAPRID2024), held at the School ETF Auditorium, on Tuesday.
She said the centre was part of the Company’s contribution towards making Anambra State a better place for all Nigerians.
According to her, the centre is meanly for practical training of fresh graduates and artisans who are willing to excel in mechanical engineering profession.
Lady Ibekwe noted that the centre, if fully completed, will accommodate the Mechanic workshop, hostel, conference hall, and other facilities, to mention a few.
She commended the University management for availing the company of the opportunity to build the proposed edifice.
Explaining more on the importance of the proposed centre billed to be sited at the Igbariam campus of the University, a Professor of Electronic and Communication Engineering of the Varsity and the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Conference, Prof Johnpaul Ilo, said the centre will also run Masters and PhDs research programmes for all Nigeria Engineering students.
He said the centre is a collaboration between the University and the Innoson Manufacturing company which is in line with the Varsity acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha’s 3vs (values, visibility and valibility) agenda towards advancing researched in the Institution.
“The centre will serve as a link between the academia and the industries. The founder and chairman of the Innoson Motors Manufacturing Company, Sir Innocent Chukwuma, is happy with the collaboration.
“The centre will be running Masters and PhDs research programmes. We will also have certification training programmes for artisans, those who do not have University degrees and they want to get a formal education that will help them in the practice of the profession at that level. So, this centre will be mean to feed the automobile industies in Nigeria and beyond,” Prof Ilo concluded.
At the 5th conference proper, the convener/Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University, Prof Christopher Anayo Nwabueze, said the aim of the conference is to educate and encourage the engineering students and other participants to follow the new trend in research and technology through Artificial intelligence (AI).
The event with the theme: Advancing Nigeria; the Role of Artificial Intelligence, sustainability, and Engineering” also has in attendance, the University acting VC, Prof Omenugha, State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr Julius Odimegwu, the Chairman of the occasion, Bro Felix Obua, the paper presenter, Chief Barth Nwibe, Hon Dom Okafor, Engr Paul Okafor amongst others.
