Stories from Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A Senior Nigerian Army Officer, Brigadier General Sikiru Adepoju Mohammed has called on industries across Nigeria to begin funding university-led research to tackle sector-specific challenges, warning that the gap between academia and industry remains a major hindrance to national development.
He made the call in Calabar while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 International Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology (ICEST), hosted by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
The three-day biannual event, themed “Convergence of AI, Digital Economy and Decarbonization: Engineering Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”, brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to chart a collaborative path for sustainable technological growth.
General Mohammed, in his presentation titled “Emerging Technologies and Digital Economy: Sustainable STEM Practices in Focus,” underscored the urgent need for industries to stop waiting on government and instead sponsor practical, problem-solving academic research that directly benefits their operations.
According to him, “There’s no better time than now for Nigerian industries to fund targeted university research that addresses the unique problems they face. That is how innovation grows, and that is how nations develop.”
He, however, warned that Nigeria cannot afford to isolate academic knowledge from real-world industrial application, stating that, “The digital economy we envision cannot take root if our engineering departments remain stuck in theory.
“Industries must invest in research. Universities must build functional labs. And together, we must deliver innovation that solves African problems.”
Mohammed also urged Nigerian engineering schools to place greater emphasis on practical sessions, suggesting structured hands-on projects across all academic levels.
“Universities need to stop producing engineers who have never used a screwdriver. Practicality must return to our classrooms” , he said.
He equally challenged the academic community with emphasis, to break free from the “status quo trap” and embrace systems thinking over linear models, noting that interdisciplinary competence is now a necessity rather than a luxury in the age of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The Keynote also highlighted outcomes from the emerging technologies research Hub initiated by General Mohammed, including real-life projects and innovations developed under his mentorship.
The Army Officer also spoke passionately about his commitment to grooming young talent, supporting pupils, and high school students despite his demanding military and academic engagements.
Mohammed, who holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds, also shared insights into the technology life cycle, advising stakeholders to make informed decisions on when to pursue in-house innovation or adopt external technologies.
He listed key tools for modern engineering practice, including Power BI, 3D Printing, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and operations research software.
He commended the organisers of ICEST 2025 for creating a platform where science, policy, and industry intersect, and appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede for granting him approval to attend the conference.
The conference featured research presentations across 12 sub-themes and created space for cross-sector collaboration, with a focus on translating research ideas into commercially viable solutions.
Brigadier General Mohammed, currently Director of Logistics at the National Defence College, is a chartered engineer and fellow of the prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), UK.
He has served as a military plant representative in Ukraine, Director at Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, and Senior Lecturer at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)
