BRIEFS ON MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,

UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA AND DANTATA AND SAWOE (D & S)

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (NIGERIA) LIMITED ON 19TH NOVEMBER,
2013 AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM, D & S HEAD OFFICE, GARKI, ABUJA.

1.0 Attendance

A Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Limited

1] Engr. Nasiru A. Dantata - Executive Director

2] Mr. Stephen Euchenhofer - Technical Manager
3] Engr. Roy Hungushi - Project Manager

B Faculty of Engineering, University of Abuja

1] Engr. Prof. O.B. Oloche - Dean of Engineering

2] Engr. Prof. A.J. Adeyinka - Dept of Chem. Engrg.
3] Engr. Dr. I.M. Dagwa - HOD, Mech. Engrg.

C Professor Adegbulugbe - Chairman, Council Committee

on Accreditation of
Engineering & Health
Sciences.

1.1 Opening

The meeting commenced at 10:15a.m.

The Executive Director (ED) welcomed us to the meeting. He
expressed his satisfaction with our promptness to the meeting.
Thereafter, those in attendance were introduced.

1.2 Opening Remarks

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director observed the

weaknesses in training of Engineers in this country. Hence, when
the graduate engineers are recruited to the industry, they had to
undergo a re-training programme before they can fit into their jobs.
 Additionally, he was also aware of the students protest due to non-
accreditation of engineering programmes among others in the
University of Abuja.

According to the Executive Director, Abuja has the largest

construction sites in Africa, which should be ideal for training
Engineers.

He also observed that the involvement of academia in Dantata &

Sawoe project cycle was virtually not there, hence, the need for
interaction between the academia and the industry.

In the light of the above, the Executive Director requested to know

what were the problems militating against the accreditation of
Engineering Programmes in particular at the University of Abuja so
that they (D&S and others) could intervene through their social
corporate responsibility to create positive impact on the lives of the
people.

Response from the Faculty of Engineering, University of

Abuja.

The Dean of Engineering appreciated the good gesture expressed

by the Management of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.

The Dean briefed the meeting on the challenges being faced by the
four Departments in the Faculty of Engineering. Emphasis was laid
on the need for the Faculty to have another block of storey building
that can accommodate: Deans office (5-rooms), four (4) Heads of
Department offices each with three (3) rooms, sixteen (16)
laboratories, ten (10) professional offices and twenty (20) offices
for other academic staff, five (5) classrooms per Department and
one (1) Board room.
Also, the need for collaboration in training was mentioned.
Chairman, Council Committee on accreditation suggested six areas
in which Dantata and Sawoe or any private sector could assist the
Faculty of Engineering. They are:

i) Infrastructure - Buildings, Equipment, etc

 ii) Industrial training
iii) Mentorship
iv) Endowment -e.g Professorial Chair by Dantata & Sawoe
v) Scholarship - to encourage students
vi) Library.
1.3 Way Forward

The ED of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company (Nig.) limited

stated that our(Faculty of Engineering) submission would be
considered at their in-house meeting. They will also reach out to
similar organizations such as Dangote group of companies with the
view to discuss with them the problems confronting the Faculty of
Engineering and requesting them to assist in solving the problems.
Meanwhile, D & S Management has requested the Faculty to
provide the following: University of Abuja master plan so that they
could know what the University has in mind for the Faculty, list of
existing facilities at the Faculty, and list of items being requested
for. The D&S management is also planning to undertake a visit to
the Faculty to see things for themselves. According to the
Executive Director, the needs of the Faculty could be broken down
into short and long term basis with a realistic period of say five (5)
years.

In conclusion, the Executive Director stated that they are looking

forward to a long lasting relationship with the Faculty of
Engineering University of Abuja.

1.4 Closing

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 p.m.

Engr. Prof. O.B. Oloche Engr. Dr. I.M. Dagwa

Dean of Engineering HOD, Mech. Engrg
(Ad-hoc Secretary)