Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, joined the global community in celebrating World Engineering Day 2025, themed “Shaping our Sustainable Future Through Engineering” with a series of activities, including a road walk, exhibition and lectures.
The celebration aimed to encourage students and raise awareness of the critical roles engineers play in the development of nations and as creative problem solvers. It also aimed to improve industry-academia cooperation.
The first activities was the Engineering road walk in which staff and students carried placards and banners promoting engineering solutions to global issues such as clean energy, infrastructure, and digital innovation.
Members of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Akure branch led by Engr. Seun Adeyeye and Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Akure branch also joined in the walk.
Along the route, participants engaged in interactive sessions and learned about great feats of engineering such as the Bagger 293 a bucket wheel excavator, which is known to be the largest land vehicle in the world, Burj Khalifa tallest building in the world, three Gorges Dam hydroelectric power station, large Hadron Collider; the world’s largest and powerful particle accelerator, Tesla’s Optimus Gen 2 and other engineering wonders.
After the walk, the event transitioned into an exhibition with the principal officers, NSE/APWEN and other staff, which showcased laboratory equipment and innovative projects by students from various engineering departments such as Civil, Electrical, and Computer engineering to the admiration of people present.
The Exhibition highlighted practical solutions to real-world problems, reinforcing the Polytechnic’s dedication to fostering creativity and technological advancement.
The celebration culminated in a lecture session, with guest speakers, Engr. H.T. Owoyemi, the immediate past APWEN Chairman, Ado-Ekiti branch and a Senior Lecturer from Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, delivering a lecture on “Engineering: A Tool for Sustainable Future”, while Dr. J. Falade, an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine from the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo gave an informative health talk/lecture, titled “Addressing Mental Health and Masculinity”.
In his remarks, the Dean, School of Engineering, Engr. Mrs. Ayotunde Akanni, stated “the event is a significant milestone for the institution and a historic event since its inception”. Engineering is at the heart of sustainable development, and today’s event has demonstrated how innovation and collaboration can solve global challenges.”
She encouraged the students to embrace the responsibility of engineering excellence and strive to develop solutions that will positively impact the society.
In addition to applauding the initiative, Dr. Ademola Iyanda Ebeloku, the Polytechnic’s Rector said that the event provides a platform for motivating the upcoming generation of innovators who will help to create a sustainable future.
The representatives of NSE, Akure branch, Engr. Seun Adeyeye, commended the polytechnic’s efforts in promoting engineering innovations with sustainable development, fostering the collaboration between academia and industry through such a significant milestone of an event being the maiden edition in the institution.
Highlight of the event was the award of excellence bestowed on the speakers, Dean, School of Engineering and the NSE chairman. The event also includes, benediction, documentaries, music and interactive sessions.
This initiative reinforces the polytechnic’s commitment to advancing sustainable development, technological excellence, and community engagement.