NADCEL 2023: Vice President Shettima, UI VC visit Team UI exhibitors to promote Robotic prototypes, Artificial intelligence in tackling terrorism at Nigeria Army Day Celebration

The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima and the Vice  Chancellor of the University of Ibadan Professor Kayode Adebowale visited the stand of Team UI at the Nigeria Army Day Celebration NADCEL 2023. A team  from the University of Ibadan   showcased innovation by the university at the  Nigeria Army Day Celebration NADCEL  2023 exhibition at the Odogbo Military cantonment in Ibadan Oyo state  to mark the Army Day.

The team UI  comprised   of staff  and students from the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Locomotive Engineering in the faculty of Technology and the Department of  Peace , Security and Humanitarian Studies   where they showcased prototypes of research works  in Robotics and artificial intelligence alongside well researched books which  can be used by the military to fight terrorism and keep the soldiers safe on the battle field.

Renowned scholar and the Dean  of the faculty of  Multidisciplinary  Studies, Professor Olawale Albert  led staff  and students from the Department of Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies to the  exhibition where books on early warning mitigation strategies, conflict resolution, gender and peace building, peace studies, security,  humanitarian studies among others were exhibited.

The Head  ,Mechanical Engineering Department,  Professor  Isaac Folorunsho expressed the readiness of the students and staff from his department to continue to conduct research that will provide solutions to societal challenges. He said ”  We brought a robotic arm,  a drone among other innovations to the Nigeria Army Day Celebration NADCEL 2023 exhibition. The drone can be used for survelliance  for  military operations and in other areas. These are ongoing research works  being done by the students to impact the community when they are through with their studies. The advice to the university is to make funding available for such research works as  these projects are funded from the pockets of the students and the department .It will be better for a fund to be made available for research works  and that way, the students  can be more committed and the work will be better”.

Asked if the prototypes have received the desired attention during the exhibition, Professor Folorunsho said “The military have come to our stand and they are interested in partnering with us. However, the limitation they have is that they are on their own. There is therefore the need for the gown and the town to meet . Such a  synergy will go a long way in harnessing our knowledge into manufacturing what they need  and this  is what is done all over the world. There is the need for a partnership since we have the knowledge and they have the resources to fund the knowledge. Government should create the platform where it will be easy for the gown to meet the town. That platform is to encourage partnership . The government is the owner of the town and the gown therefore they can say there should be a laboratory in the university of Ibadan and that way the two will benefit”

Speaking concerning the visit of the Vice President of Nigeria  Kashim Shettima to the team UI stand, Prof. Folorunsho said ‘’ The Vice President visited the stand and the students explained to him what they have done and the need for funding. We got reactions and feedback afterwards from the army  that they will get back to us and we are expecting their feedback’’.

Another scholar on the Team UI , Prof. Fadare David Abimbola  who is the Head Department of  Locomotive Engineering said the Team UI also  promoted  automation , machine learning and robotics  during the exhibition. He said ” From the insight we have received from here , we have  seen Nigerians’ passion for automation,  artificial intelligence and robotics and  those are  the expertise we are trying to develop in out department. I see a future for synergy between the  research we are conducting  in the laboratory to meet the needs of the Nigeria army. What we have brought here  are still at the level of prototype. After the initial  groundbreaking research, we need a prototype to showcase for potential investors from outside that can take up the commercialisation . Most unfortunate of it , is that they are self sponsored students projects in need of investors to buy it up and take it to the levels of commercialisation. One of the benefits of having this out there is that they are low cost since they are home grown. The issue of  estacode and foreign exchange will no longer be there. The government should look inward to fund research in our institutions of higher learning . This can generate more jobs and tackle unemployment if the grants are made available. Therefore ,our government needs to look inward as the benefits are enormous if the funds are provided to carry out these research works. We urge the military to collaborate with us in terms of the funding of our research work”.

The Team UI exhibitors expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor Professor Adebowale for approving their request to showcase the innovations to the army and the federal government as they added that his presence and quality time he spent visiting them , listening intensely to their exhibition demonstrations was indeed a morale booster which portray  him as a  VC with the heart for students , staff , the university upliftment , the betterment of the  army  and the country’s  commitment in fighting  terrorism and other violent crime.