Metrospeed gives Yabatech students hands-on experience in engineering

Students of Civil Engineering at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) recently had a firsthand encounter with practical tech engineering during a visit to the 97-hectare lagoon-front Metro Smart City project site in Lekki.

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This visit was their first real encounter with the world their textbooks had only described, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey.

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The field trip was organised by Dr. Omolola Adetona, a Geotechnical Engineering lecturer and Chief Executive Officer of the Engineering Resource Academy, who expressed concern that Nigeria’s young engineers were losing touch with the practical demands of their chosen profession.

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Dr. Adetona noted that over the years, young engineers have not been living up to expectations, which has affected the sustainability of the profession, prompting her to take action.

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Speaking at the Lekki head office of Metrospeed Group, Dr. Adetona explained that she organised the visit to show students that civil engineering extends far beyond lecture notes and whiteboards, and that it is a living, evolving discipline.

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She emphasized the need to expose students to the environment, allowing them to see the practical application of the concepts they learn in class, and to understand that studying engineering involves more than just sitting in a classroom.

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The site visit offered a compelling case study, with Metrospeed’s ongoing smart city development showcasing a lagoon-front project that incorporates fibre optics infrastructure, solar panels, and other cutting-edge features.

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For Emike Ntiokiet, Metrospeed Group’s Head of Sales and Marketing, the visit was an opportunity to inspire the next generation of engineers and to showcase the company’s vision for the future.

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Ntiokiet challenged the students to think beyond the industry’s status quo, arguing that Lagos’s expanding population and mounting housing deficit require a fundamentally different approach to development, one that prioritizes infrastructure over just building structures.

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She also highlighted Metrospeed’s commitment to nurturing talent, pledging that the company would continue to open its doors to engineering students and young graduates eager to contribute to Nigeria’s built environment.

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Engineer Abdulhameed Salahudeen reinforced the importance of industry exposure among engineering undergraduates, recommending that students visit project sites at least three times per semester to gain practical experience.

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Salahudeen noted that hands-on experience is essential for students to fully grasp the concepts they learn in class, and that it helps to make the knowledge more memorable and applicable in real-world scenarios.

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For the students, the visit was a resounding success, with Afolami Omotosho leaving the site feeling energised and inspired by Metrospeed’s smart city ambition.

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Omotosho described Metrospeed’s project as proof that world-class development is possible within Nigeria’s borders, and expressed admiration for the company’s ambitious approach to development.