EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ORGANISERS OF 2017 ENGINEERING PROJECT EXHIBITION (EPEX) UNILORIN

All is set for the staging of the 2017 edition of the Engineering Project Exhibition also known as EPEX by the leadership of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin.

In this exclusive interview with our correspondent, Mr. Olanrewaju Ridwan, the EPEX organisers give insights into the way and manner the laudable event would be held. Enjoy!

UCJ: Can you briefly introduce yourselves?

I am Khalistus Ezenkwa; a 500 level student, Biomedical engineering— EPEX’17 Coordinator.

I am Abdul Raheem Khalid khalid; a 500 level student, Electrical and Electronics engineering— EPEX’17 Co-coordinator

I am Omotosho Tomiwa; a 500 level student, Electrical and Electronics Engineering— EPEX’17 Co-coordinator.

I am Adebisi Semiu 500 level student, Agric and Biosystems engineering: President, faculty of Engineering and Technology.

*UCJ: What is EPEX all about?*

*President:* EPEX is an Engineering Project Exhibition which started in the year 2015 during the era of Com. Nicemate. It is a stage where undergraduate exhibit their project subject to verification. It started has a faculty contest within the university and extended to all universities in Nigeria by the year 2016. It serves has a link between the theoretical aspect and practical aspect of Engineering. It is meant to solve majorly (sic) local problems affecting the country.

UCJ: Talk about the sponsorship of the project exhibition?

*Khalistus:* Lubcon Nigeria limited is the major sponsor of EPEX’17 carrying close to 80percent of the budget. Other sponsors are Index consultants and Bal Engineering.

UCJ: Mr President Sir, what has been stand of the faculty on the project exhibition organized by NUESA annually?

*President:* The faculty has always stood by NUESA in organizing the program through the help of the Dean of the faculty in person of Prof. Y.A JImoh. He also cited an example of a period where by they couldn’t get in touch with the key sponsor and the faculty was ready to take up part of the expenses for the program.

UCJ: How many entries were accepted for EPEX’17?

*Khalistus:* The total of 36 entries were accepted from schools like UNILORIN, FUTA, LAUTECH and FUTMINNA.

UCJ: Mr Khalid, can you please enlighten us on the duration of EPEX’17?

*Khalid:* The organizing team has provided an adequate time frame for the presentation of projects and its assessment. There will be two stages, the preliminary stages which is to hold on the 13th and 20th May, 2017 where just 8 project out of 36 projects are to be selected and the final stage which is on the 8th June 2017. There will be going to be panelist both from the academic and industrial sector of the Society.

UCJ: Mr Coordinator, as earlier mentioned by Mr Khalid that there will be panelist from both the academic and industrial sector. Can you please relay to us the names of the panelists we should be expecting?

Khalista: It was tried during the last edition of the project exhibition to bring in external judges but some failed to show up. This year we have restricted ourselves only to the faculty lecturers for the preliminary stages and we are bringing people from the industrial sector like engineer Jani Ibrahim, Engineer Kamil Olalekan amongst others as panelist for the final round.

UCJ: What do the students and the participants stand to gain from EPEX’17, Mr. Omotosho?

Omotosho: As we all know that in every competition there will always be winners. As for the winners they have the opportunity to increase themselves in knowledge through wide research and the winners stand a chance to win cash prices and award certificates. The students on the other hand have a chance to be exposed to new innovation and it also serve has a challenge to other students to think outside the box.

UCJ: Mr Khalista, as Mr. Omotosho said, the winners are to go home with cash prices, and certificates awards. Can you please tell us the prices to be won and the categories for the prices?

Khalista: This year’s price is tagged engineer Jani Ibrahim’s price, as the 1st position goes home with a sum of 150,000 naira, the 2nd position goes home with 100,000naira and the 3rd position goes home with 50,0000naira. Other categories of awards are most eco-friendly, innovative and marketable awards which all will be awarded with certificates.

UCJ: Does the project meet international standards?

Kcoulhhalid: As it was earlier stated that the projects are meant to solve local problems in our society. So, I don’t think there will be any international standards for some projects as the problems pertains to our Society.

UCJ: Has the school or Society adopted any of the past projects exhibited, Mr. President?

Yes, for example the winner of EPEX’15 did a project on home-based automation system where by when you leave home and you forgot to switch off your appliances, you can always do so through your phone whenever you remember.

UCJ: Is there any documentation for the previous EPEX projects, and should we be expecting documentation for this year’s edition too, Mr President?

There has not been really any documentation for the past project but we are working on producing a journal this year which will bring in proper documentation of the past projects and that is if we only have fund to produce the journal.

UCJ: Any piece of advice to the Society on EPEX?

The Society should be ready to embrace EPEX projects, sponsor them and ensure they buy the machines to prosper made in Nigeria products and reduce cost of importation of some machines. The students too should be ready to think more widely on projects to be exhibited in solving issues facing the country.

Thank you all for your time. We are looking forward to seeing you at the preliminary stage on 13th May, 2017.