Empowering Africa’s Next Generation Engineers With IEEE

I receive a lot of emails from people asking me to contribute to IEEE spectrum. Usually they want to write an article for us. But one bold question I received in January 2024 went much further: an undergraduate student named Oluwatosin Koladefrom Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeriavolunteered to be ours robotics editor.

Kolade—Tosin to his friends—was the editor of his IEEE student chapter's newsletter, but had never published an article professionally. His sincerity and enthusiasm were amazing. I explained what we already have robotics editorbut I would be happy to work with him on writing, editing and ultimately publishing the article.

Back in 2003, I met a lot of engineering students when I went to Nigeria will report via SAT-3/WASC cable, first underwater fiber optic West landing cable Africa. I remember students gathering around outdated computers in Internet The cafes are connected to the world via a satellite dish powered by a generator. I suggested that Tosin tell Spectrum readers, what is it like for engineering students today. Result: “Drone Lessons Janki“

I decided to supplement Tosin’s article with the point of view of a more authoritative engineer in Sub-Saharan Africa. I turned to J. Pascal Zacharywhich covered engineering education in Africa for us, and Zachary introduced me to Engineer Bane's LuckProfessor of Computer Science at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. IN “Learn more with lessBainomugisha outlines the commonalities between his and Tosin's experiences and suggests ways to make the equipment needed for engineering education more accessible.

In fact, the region's decade-long struggle to develop its engineering talent depends on access to three things we focus on in this issue: reliable power, ubiquitous broadband accessAnd educational resources for young engineers.

“During my weekly video calls with Tosin… the connection was pretty good, except when it wasn't.”

Zachary's article in this issue: “What will it really take to electrify all of Africa?» addresses the first topic, focusing on the ambitious initiative to provide electricity to an additional 300 million people by 2030.

Executive Editor Lukas Laursenarticle, “Why isn't broadband everywhere in Nigeria?” examines the slow rollout of fiber optic communications in the two decades since my first visit. As he learned during a trip to Nigeria earlier this year, the country now has eight submarine cables providing 380 terabits of capacity, yet less than half the population has broadband access.

I became aware of Nigeria's bandwidth problems during weekly video calls with Tosin to discuss his article. Communication was pretty good, except when it wasn't. Yet, I reminded myself, two decades ago such calls would have been virtually impossible.

Through these weekly conversations, we developed a professional connection that made my meeting with Tosin in person in May of this year even more meaningful. IEEE ICRA Robotics Conferencein Atlanta. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Tosin was present thanks to scholarship from IEEE Robotics and Automation Society support his participation in robotics standardization events at the conference. Like a kid in a candy store, he kibbutzed with other fellows, attended lectures, examined robots and met the engineers who built them.

As Tosin enters the next phase of his career, he is supported by the IEEE community, which not only recognizes his promise, but also gives him access to a network of professionals who can help him and his colleagues realize their potential.