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Agricultural Engineering Department

Background

The establishment of specialized Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria is a milestone in the nation’s educational and developmental history. The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike was established by Edict No 48 of the Federal Government of Nigeria in May 1993 with the central mandate and mission of imparting agricultural education in a scientific and practical way, undertaking applied research and such extension services as would assist the achievement of national self sufficiency in food production and catalyzing as well as sustaining rural development.
Thus the University operates unique academic programmes in engineering which are carefully planned to meet the manpower requirements for an agricultural revolution in the country. The programmes are woven into the overall mandate and mission of the University taking into consideration all necessary criteria, indicators and peculiarities of the specialized nature of a University of Agriculture.
In due course, it became clear that the mission and mandate of the Institution could not be fully achieved, neither could agriculture be successfully developed nor meaningfully utilized in the industrialization and sustenance of the nation without an accompanying College of Engineering. Thus in 2001/2002 academic session, the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology came into existence with the establishment of the Department of Agricultural Engineering as the first Engineering Department. The Department runs a 5-year degree programmes leading to the award of the Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng) Degree.
Agricultural Engineering Department has three major options thus:
  1. Agricultural Products Processing/Storage and Food Engineering,
  2. Farm Power and Machinery Engineering, and
  3. Soil and Water Resources Engineering.

 

Head: 
simonyan.kayode

Objectives

Deriving from the philosophy articulated in the preceding paragraph, the major objectives of the Agricultural Engineering training at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike are:
In general, to train engineers who can employ their training to address the agricultural needs of the nation in particular and of human society generally.
In specifics, the programme aims at
  1. Training engineers who are conversant with the application of scientific and engineering principles to agricultural mechanization and food production; processing, preservation, and storage; and soil and water resources development and management.
  2. Enabling the attainment, in the shortest possible time, of self-sufficiency in the production of basic food through the application of engineering techniques.
  3. Facilitating the attainment of capability for the production and processing of produce for export.
  4. Enhancing rural employment opportunities and improving the quality of rural life.

Philosophy

The primary philosophy guiding the training of Agricultural Engineering students at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, is the production of skilled professional manpower solidly grounded in the basic sciences and engineering. Such professional manpower has to be produced through the adoption of effective techniques of instruction and exposure to actual practice of engineering and agriculture in the content of globalization and the prevailing role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

Scope

The study of Agricultural Engineering can be specialized in the following options namely: Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Farm Power and Machinery Engineering as well as Agricultural Products Processing and Food Engineering. Agricultural Engineering combines all these options to produce broad trained graduates that are versatile for professional jobs in both the public and private sectors.
Agricultural Engineering adds a biotechnological dimension to engineering technology by studying and understanding the principles of crop and livestock production as well as the strength and properties of soils, plant and animal materials and possible energy generations from biomaterials. But like any other engineering field, Agricultural Engineering education must have a strong physical science base, with special attention to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. It requires an understanding of and ability in the engineering science particularly in the areas of materials, fluid and heat flow, computations and mechanisms.
In pursuance of the above, specific features have been incorporated into the programme. These include:
  1. Common foundation year at 100 and 200 levels for all engineering students.
  2. Workshop practice, laboratory work, tutorials, seminars on specific topics, farm machinery and field operations.
  3. Broad based engineering and interaction between students and professionals.
  4. Adequate knowledge in the areas of engineering management, economics and law.
  5. Design projects with bias towards local applications.
  6. Supervised SIWES experience at the 400 level of study.
  7. Final year projects in which students work alone under supervision in specific options of Agricultural Engineering.
The academic programme has been placed to offer challenges and  to encourage the development of ingenuity and originality in the students.

Career Opportunities

Agricultural Engineering provides a background for careers in design, development, manufacture, testing, research, management and sales. Graduates are employed in agricultural- related industries, consulting firms and service organizations, Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture, fisheries, water resources, rural development, science and technology and their numerous parastatals; food processing companies, farm machinery companies, construction companies, irrigation and drainage companies and engineering component sales companies and banks. Graduates can also find employment in educational and business areas , environmental protection and soil conservation agencies , River Basin Development Authorities, among others in public and private sectors of the economy.
In addition, Agricultural Engineering is for those who:
  • Are challenged to find practical solutions to critical problems.
  • Have a strong engineering aptitude and like to experiment with machinery, structures, soil, water, power or electronics systems.
  • Have interest in agriculture, biology or any of the sciences.
  • Like food production, animal care, nature or environmental conservation, or outdoor activities.
  • Like diversity and a profession which a wide selection of career opportunities.

Agricultural Engineering (B.Eng.) Degree Curriculum

Course Codesort icon Course Title Course Brief Credit Load
EAE221 Agricultural Engineering Concepts

Introduction of Agricultural Engineering profession. Identification of various tractors and implements. Tractor driving and test. Use of tractor for various field operations.

 1

Head of Department

simonyan.kayode's picture
KayodeSimonyan

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