By: Akinpelu Victoria
The National Association of Polytechnic Engineering Students (NAPES), under the esteemed leadership of President Bamidele Mujeeb Olawale, held a highly anticipated interdepartmental debate at the institution’s Assembly Hall, located at the South Campus. This engaging event took place on, June 24, 2025, promptly at 12 PM.
The central theme of the debate was: “Sustainable Development: The Roles of Engineering in Sustaining the SDGs.”
This pertinent topic drew a significant audience, including several prominent figures in the engineering community. Among the notable attendees were Engr. Dr. Oke D.A., Father of the day, who is also The Dean, Faculty of Engineering; and Engr. Akeem Ghazali, who served as the keynote speaker for the event.
The lineup of speakers also featured key figures such as Kehinde Ayanboade,
Dahusi Tobi Daniel, Engr. Ayoola Yusuf Adewale, Engr. Muftau Olalekan, and Agunloye Boluwaji, all of whom brought a wealth of experience and insight to the proceedings.
During his opening remarks, Comrade Bamidele Mujeeb Olawale, NAPES president, warmly welcomed everyone in attendance, expressing gratitude for their presence and recognizing the significant contributions of all student leaders who participated. He emphasized the importance of sustainable development in engineering and encouraged healthy discourse among the contestants.
The debate was an intellectually stimulating event that encompassed all departments within the Faculty of Engineering and commenced immediately following the opening remarks.
Participants included Ojebade Kaosara and her co-debater Rasaq Akolade from the Civil Engineering department, who presented compelling arguments on “The Sustainable Device Development to Balance Economic Environment and Society.” Following them were Olanrewaju Francis and Olasupo Mary, representing the Metallurgical Engineering department, as well as Olufemi Ariel and Alarape Moses from Mechatronic Engineering. Other teams included Shotinrin Kehinde and Ojen Ikuchukwa from Electrical Engineering, Omolara Blessing and Shonade Emmanuel from Computer Engineering, and finally, Ajibare Faith and Michael Kehinde from Mechanical Engineering. Each pair presented well-researched points to substantiate their arguments, showcasing the diverse perspectives and innovative ideas stemming from various engineering disciplines.
After rigorous discussions and careful evaluations, the judges engaged in a thorough deliberation process to determine the winners. The outcome was eagerly awaited, and the chief judge, Mr. Kehinde Ayanboade, officially announced the results.
In a highly competitive atmosphere, the rankings were as follows: Mechatronics Engineering secured the 6th position with a score of 54.25 points, followed closely by Metallurgical Engineering in 5th place with 55 points. Computer Engineering claimed the 4th position with 59.25 points, while Electrical Engineering garnered the title of second runner-up with an impressive score of 69.75 points. Civil Engineering emerged as the first runner-up with a commendable 74.5 points, and ultimately, Mechanical Engineering was crowned the winner of the debate, achieving an outstanding 75 points.
As the event drew to a close, Mr Kehinde Ayanboade delivered the closing remarks, thanking all participants, judges, and attendees for their valuable contributions. He highlighted the significance of the discussions held and reaffirmed the crucial role engineering plays in advancing sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event concluded on a high note, emphasizing the collective commitment of the engineering community to fostering sustainable practices in their future endeavors.
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