GOLD YOUNGER MEMBERS' NETWORK CONFERENCE 2007

A REPORT ON THE GYMN CONFERENCE 2007

The much publicized Gold Younger Members’ Network Conference GYMN 2007 eventually came to a close in grand style on the 15^th September, 2007.

Gold Younger Members’ Network Conference GYMN 2007 is a joint conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) held between 12 and 15 September, 2007, with the theme: “Internetworking Education and the Industry for National Development.”

The “flow” started with a press conference held at the board room of the Afribank Plc, Victoria Island, Lagos on the 11th of September, 2007 where awareness was created for the conference. It featured the history of the conference, aims and objectives, benefits of attending, introduction of the organizers of the event (IEEE and IET) and ended with a question and answer session.

The Obafemi Awolowo University woke up host to eminent personalities, erudite scholars, vibrant students and efficient members of the press who had gathered to witness the opening ceremony of the GYMN 07, the first collaborative effort of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) Nigeria.

The chairman of the conference, Dr M.O. Omoigui while welcoming all participants to the conference, enjoined them all to avail themselves of this golden opportunity to acquire value. This he said was in accordance with the theme of the conference which is seeking to bridge the gap between the academia and the industry for the benefit of the nation. The keynote speaker, Dr G.A Aderounmu of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, who represented the Director of Information Technology and Communication Unit (INTECU), Prof L.O. Kehinde, carefully highlighted the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on education. According to him, “ICT has caused the world to evolve in to a Global Information Society. This he said has brought about the emergence of a kind of “new philosophy” where a student learns what he likes, where he likes, when he likes, and how he likes, an immense benefit to developing nations like Nigeria with a propensity of bringing about phenomenal growth in the education sector.” Concluding his speech, he made a recommendation to the federal government – The establishment of a National Research Foundation with the aim of bringing about capacity development. The center which will be an agency of the Ministry of Education will serve as a link between the university and the industry to reduce brain drain in our tertiary institution. He challenged the Government, the Academia, the Industrial sector, ICT professional, Service Product Providers, Business Mogul and ICT users in the third world like to accept the challenges of the Global Knowledge Society we live in and be an active part of the global village.

He therefore called on the IEEE and IET to come to the aid of science poor nation in the light of ICT to make them relevant most especially the application of ICT in Education.

The Director of Cooperative Information Network (COPINE), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology -Dr T.K Yesufu, who was a special guest of honour at the conference talked extensively on his agency as an intervention of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in Education.

A participant and speaker at the conference, Dr E.N Onwuka, a lecturer with the Federal University of Technology, Minna, while delivering her paper argued for a review of the nations’ education curriculum. She lamented the era in which engineering graduates end up in banks, accounting outfits and other non-engineering outfits (many graduates find little or no relationship with what was taught in school and what is obtainable in the job market.) In making her submission, she proposed collaboration between industry and academia through;

• Direct hires of students, graduates, and faculty;

• Temporary exchanges of researchers;

• University/faculty consultancies;

• Joint research involving industry and academic scientists and engineers;

• Industry-sponsored research contracts and grants;

• A variety of institutional mechanisms at universities (e.g., research centers,consortia, industrial liaison programs),

• Publications; conferences; and short courses

Besides curriculum review and partnership with the industry, there is a need to review the method of imparting engineering education in the light of changes in Technology, Society and Teaching/learning infrastructure. The introduction of the discipline of Engineering education in our engineering program will have the duty of studying and researching into engineering teaching methodology, and stages and methods of curriculum review and upgrade. Therefore the disparity between the quality of engineering graduates in the job market viz-à-viz the expectations of employers of labor in the industries and businesses should not be solved by the academia alone, it requires a collective effort from all the stakeholders which comprise academia, industries/businesses and the government.

In the same vein, Mrs M.L Sanni, a lecturer with the Department of Computer science & Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, while delivering advocated for a framework for remote experiment, this is to equip undergraduates with the necessary experimental skills needed for the global market. She emphasized a similar project being worked upon at the Obafemi Awolowo University currently sponsored by Carnegie foundation.

Another speaker at the conference called on the Telecommunication companies to improve on their services.

The conference will not have been complete if the effort of brilliant students were not recognized. Students from all over Nigeria presented mind blowing papers. Timothy Akinbo of Obafemi Awolowo University spoke on “Implementing Operator-Independent Location Based Services: A Nigerian Case-Study”, Oladiran Olaoluwa of the same university talked on “Colour Ring Back Tone Technology and The future of Mobile Telecommunication Services“, A Student from the Olabisi Onabanjo made a wonderful presentation on WIMAX, its application and emerging trends, Onoruvie Oghenrukevwe of Babcock University presented “Network Power Sharing Device”. Many other brilliant papers were also presented during the conference. In all about 19 papers were presented.

The conference chair while delivering his paper made recommendation on an effective means of proffering solution to the problem of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and unemployment of our graduates after concluding their programs.

Participants of the 4-day event comprised of students from Federal, State, Private Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, University dons, Private individuals, Company and Industry Specialists, Representatives of Corporate Organizations, Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Policy makers.

The objectives of the conference include:

The need to formulate standards peculiar to our environment.
The need for a voluntary body to advise policy makers in the formulation of electro-information technology policies.
To prepare Nigerian students for the challenges ahead.
To highlight basic problems and solution of the Theme: "Internetworking Education and the Industry for National Development"
To encourage basic academic Research & Development (R&D) and possible sponsorship avenues by organizations in Nigeria.
To highlight the roles of Telecommunications in National Development and evaluate the performances of PLMNs, PTOs, ICT companies in the past and ways to improve its services.
Encourage engineers to be part of constructive decision making in Nigeria policy.

In bringing the conference to a close, presentations were made by both Mr. Jonathan Ogbekhilu on behalf of the IEEE and Gbenga Adeyemo on behalf of the IET. Both were aimed at creating awareness for these organizations viz a viz benefits, mission and vision statements as well as achievements. Though this took place for the latter part of the day, the session was highly interactive as it rounded off with intelligent questions and the speakers did thorough justice to them. For more information, visit www.ieee.org and www.theiet.org

It was fun as all and sundry had a feel of nature from the venue of the event. Also, it was a time to socialize and get to meet each other. So, in the relaxed atmosphere of cool musical vibes and something to munch, the entirety of “networking” was displayed amidst cheers. I must confess, engineers are the happiest people on earth.

The conference ended on Saturday with a mountaineering exercise and visit to tourist sites on Africa’s Most beautiful campus. The closing ceremony and conference dinner which was the high point of the event was well attended by all participants.

The Chairman LOC, Bello Taofeek, of the department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University while making his closing remark, appreciated the Vice chancellor, the dean, the Head of department (past and present), the IEEE Nigerian section, the IET YMN Nigeria section, Ibompower, CIL Access Abuja, Dudumobile and Budzeg Technologies and individuals who will not want their name mentioned, our invited guest from all over Nigeria for their unalloyed support.

GYMN 2007 (a biannual conference) the first in the series, he said was a good initiative which has achieved its objectives and has caused cross fertilization of ideas. He called on the federal government to pay more attention to the education sector which is the best legacy and the industries to partner with the universities to avoid spending excessively on training on graduates of these universities.

GYMN 2007
GOLD YOUNGER MEMBERS’ NETWORK CONFERENCE 2007
A Communiqué issued at the end of a 4-day conference of the Gold Younger Members’ Network to discuss “Internetworking Education and The Industry for National Development” organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE) in collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology(IET) Nigeria, at Oduduwa hall, Obafemi Awolowo University between 12-15 September, 2007.

1.0 Preamble

GYMN, is an acronym of Gold Younger Members’ Network. The conference-GYMN 07- is a bi-annual, joint conference of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and Institution of Engineering and Technology. The first of its kind in Nigeria.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. (IEEE), is the world’s largest technical professional body with a mission to promote the engineering process of creating, developing, integrating, sharing, and applying knowledge about electro and information technologies and sciences for the benefit of humanity and the profession. IEEE has its headquarters in the United State of America (USA) with a section in Nigeria.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) was formed by a merger of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE). It is the largest professional engineering society in Europe.
The missions of these two professional bodies are achieved by members and noon-members participating in seminars, workshop, trainings and conferences within and outside Nigeria and proffer immediate solution to the needs of our Nation Nigeria. This year’s conference with the Theme: Internetworking Education and the Industry for National Development, the first of its kind is no doubt a step in the right direction.

2.0 Attendance

3.0 Objectives and Papers Considered

3.1 The conference addressed the following objectives:

i. The need to formulate standards peculiar to our environment.
ii. The need for a voluntary body to advise policy makers in the formulation of electro-information technology policies.
iii. To prepare Nigerian students for the challenges ahead.
iv. To highlight basic problems and solution of the Theme: "Internetworking Education and the Industry for National Development"
v. To encourage basic academic Research & Development (R&D) and possible sponsorship avenues by organizations in Nigeria.
vi. To highlight the roles of Telecommunications in National Development and evaluate the performances of PLMNs, PTOs, ICT companies in the past and ways to improve its services.
vii. Encourage engineers to be part of constructive decision making in Nigeria policy.

3.2. In realizing the above objectives, the keynote speakers;

1. Dr G.A Aderounmu of the Information and Techno logy Communication Unit (INTECU)
Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife presented the keynote address on the theme of the conference; “Internetworking Education and The Industry for National Development.”
2. Dr M.O Omoigui of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi
Awolowo University Ile Ife, delivered a paper on “manpower development through work integration and Oriented training”

3. Mr Idongesit Archibong of Ibom Power also delivered a paper on “Present Issues Involving
Managers in Today’s Industries”

4.0 Observation/ Recommendation

After a detailed analysis of all the presentation, workshop, and the current state of interaction between the academia and the industry, participants made the following observations and conclusions;
i. Companies should assist in the training of university engineering students at all levels to make them adaptable into the industry.
ii. Engineering curriculum should be reviewed in line with the current trends in advancement in technology.
iii. Institutions like IEEE and IET should support third world countries like Nigeria to achieve her Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG).
iv. IEEE and IET should be more involved with the training of engineering students.