Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), has challenged engineers, researchers and technology experts to evolve homegrown solutions to Nigeria’s socioeconomic problems and drive sustainable national development.
He made the call at the opening of the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology International Conference (FETICON 2026) in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Represented by Prof. Muhtar Etudaye, the vice chancellor described engineering as a critical pillar for national transformation, insisting that no country can attain meaningful development without a strong engineering sector.
“I do not know of any society, either historically or currently, that became developed without a very robust and strong engineering sector,” he said.
Egbewole noted that Nigeria continues to face both long-standing and emerging challenges that require modern engineering interventions and innovative technological solutions.
According to him, advancements in engineering have become increasingly important in sectors such as security and healthcare, citing the growing deployment of drone technology for surveillance and life-saving operations.
“We have suddenly realised that the place of drones has moved from entertainment and recording ceremonies to actually saving lives through security surveillance and other critical operations. Engineering stands at the core of this,” he said.
He expressed confidence that deliberations at the conference would yield practical recommendations to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness and position African countries for greater global relevance.
“Our country faces challenges, some of which we have dealt with for decades, while others are emerging challenges. We need not only traditional engineering solutions but also new adaptive solutions to address them,” he added.
The conference, themed “Innovating for a Sustainable and Resilient Future: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Development,” attracted academics, researchers, industry experts and students from within and outside Nigeria.
The chairperson of FETICON 2026 Central Planning Committee, Prof. Temitope Elizabeth Odetoye, revealed that the conference received more than 300 accepted research papers, reflecting growing interest in technology-driven development.