The Mechanical Engineering department laboratory at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has received a digital upgrade with state-of-the-art equipment valued in the millions, aimed at benefiting engineers and innovators.
This enhancement was made possible by the foundation of fintech executive Tosin Eniolorunda, who renovated the laboratory to serve as a Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) facility.
Eniolorunda, a co-founder of Moniepoint and an alumnus of the department, commissioned the project alongside the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, over the weekend.
The laboratory, now named after Eniolorunda, aims to bolster Nigerian students’ interest in science and technology, particularly in areas such as prototyping, design, and engineering.
Professor Bamire said: “We are very grateful for this laboratory considering that we are almost phasing out some of these things as a result of paucity of funds. This laboratory will help improve and enhance a lot of things within the University for students and staff and also drive collaboration between the academia and industry,” he said.
In his remark on donation, Eniolorunda said, “this newly revamped laboratory represents more than just an upgrade, it stands as part of a personal commitment to foster a generation of engineers and innovators to inspired them to think critically and creatively about real-world problems.
“These state-of-the-art multi-million naira resources will provide students with hands-on experience in the latest CAD/CAM technologies, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in the field of mechanical engineering”.
