Institution news
This year’s Global Engineering Debate which was hosted by the Nigerian Young Members Section recorded a huge success. This was the second time Nigeria Young Members is hosting this debate. It was held on the 14th of December, 2017 at the New Faculty of Engineering Hall, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra state with participants of about 70 persons.
The event, organised by Ifeanyichukwu U. Onyenanu, Middle East and Africa Young Members Vice Representative and Emmanuel Ikpatt, Nigeria Young Members Section Chair was the second major event hosted by Nigerian Young Members section in 2017.
The question that was considered this year was “Healthcare Technologies for Ageing Population; How can healthcare technology better support independent life for an ageing population?”
Present at the event were hosts of students from various IMechE student chapters/universities, Young Members of the Institution in Nigeria, members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Dr. IK Umeonyiagu, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, COOU, and others including Francis C. Ogamba (Shell BP), Engr. Swift Onyeghirim, (COOU). Engr. Joseph AlohEngr. Anigbogu Ijeoma, Engr. Nzekwe Edwin and others. Our keynote speaker Engr. Prof. S. C. Nwigbo also doubled also as the chairman for the event.
The panel consist of two judges in the persons of Mrs Celina N. Enukoha, (NOCEN) – Chief Judge and Engr. Dr. Kennedy Owuama (COOU).
The four areas of consideration for the debate were:
- Life at home
- Transportation.
- Healthcare providers
- Community providers.
The event was formally opened by the Chairman followed by the Welcome address from Ifeanyichukwu U. Onyenanu and a keynote lecture given by Engr. Prof. S. C. Nwigbo on the debate's theme. He opened the eyes of the participants to aged and ageing population, his lecture preparing the debaters before the rules and guidelines for the debate was read by the Chief Judge and the debate began.
Before the debate a pre-debate poll was conducted for the four areas of considerations and the results are as follows:
Each of the debaters handled one of the four areas of consideration:
- Life at home - Anieze Chukwuemeka Joseph
- Transporation - Udoye Springs Chinedu
- Healthcare providers - Chukwubuikem Felix Amaefule
- Community providers - Ezendidika Chikeluba Davis
Each presentation by the candidates, was followed by a question and answer session.
All the debaters were Young Members of IMechE - two affiliate members and two associate members. The debaters showed that they had done wonderful research and came up with their findings on the healthcare technologies for ageing population carefully considering Africa.
Udoye Springs Chinedu; the Winner of the debate being presented with his prize
After much deliberations by the judges, Mrs. Enukoha announced the result and announced the winner. Hugecongratulations to Udoye Springs Chinedu who was awarded first prize and to all the participants of this year’s event.
>Once the results were announced and certificates presented, a presentation - "Membership/how to grow your career with IMechE" - was given by Ifeanyichukwu Onyenanu, Middle East and Africa Young Members Vice Representative.
Following the debate, when the audiences were polled at the end of the debate to the same question as the beginning, the overall winner was transportation (32%), followed by healthcare providers (30%), community provider (20%) and life at home (18%). Transportation having gone from 28% of the votes before the debate to 32% of the votes at the end of the debate demonstrated a change in outlook of the audience.