Engr. Prof. Omonigho B. Otanocha has called for a radical shift in Nigeria’s industrial landscape, urging the adoption of advanced manufacturing and “industrial symbiosis” to foster harmony between nature and economic development.
Delivering the 13th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) on April 8, 2026, titled “Let There Be Light: Engineered Systems Response for Nature and Industrial Harmony,”
Otanocha argued that the future of Nigerian industry lies in “light” technologies—specifically LASERS and additive manufacturing.
Otanocha, a Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Sustainable Production Systems, challenged the traditional view of engineering as mere “steel and oil”. Instead, he presented a vision where engineered systems mimic nature’s efficiency.
“Imagine a world where surfaces breathe… where wings glide with less resistance… where machines achieve more with less,” Otanocha told the audience. “That vision was born from light; light that sculpts, light that teaches, light that transforms industry into harmony with nature”.
The lecture highlighted his research at the University of Manchester, where he discovered that ultrafast laser micro-patterning could engineer surfaces to reduce drag and delay turbulence. Notably, laser-textured micro-dimples cut dust in cyclone systems by 78%, proving that high-tech solutions have immediate, practical environmental impacts.
Global Lessons for Local Challenges
Drawing comparative analyses from global leaders like China, Japan, and Germany, Otanocha noted that Nigeria must move beyond its over-dependence on oil exports. He pointed to Germany’s 65% municipal waste recycling rate and China’s doubling of robot density in factories as benchmarks for success.
Closer to home, he cited Egypt’s integration of Strategic Environmental Assessments and South Africa’s support for advanced manufacturing through public-private partnerships as vital blueprints for Nigeria’s own industrial evolution.
From Patents to Public Policy
The lecture was not merely theoretical; Prof. Otanocha showcased a suite of patents developed by his team ready for commercialization to solve local problems:
The Mechanical Dissolved Gas Floatation System addresses wastewater treatment in oil and gas operations.
The Aluminium Powder Production System transforms end-of-life materials into additive manufacturing feedstock.
The Carbon Capture Mechanical System targets emissions from small and medium-scale industrial clusters.
Agro-allied and utility tools include a mechanical cassava harvester, pedal-powered water pumps, and sustainable bio-digester systems.
To translate these innovations into national growth, Prof. Otanocha proposed five critical policy recommendations for the Federal Government:
Recommendation One: The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NASENI, should establish Regional Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hubs.
Implementation includes partnering with FUPRE to facilitate the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, Mechatronics and Materials (IAMMM) by mid-2026.
Recommendation Two:Launch a National Additive Manufacturing and Circular Economy Policy. This includes creating a task force to guide the adoption of zero-waste manufacturing and mandating lifecycle assessments for industrial products.
Recommendation Three: Establish a National Industry-Academia Integration Programme (NAIIP). This would update university curricula and establish a framework for “Professors of Practice” from industry to teach in higher institutions.
Recommendation Four: Strengthen Technical and Vocational Education for Industry 4.0 Skills. This involves updating curricula in technical colleges to include robotics and CAD/CAM by the third quarter of 2026.
Recommendation Five: Launch a National Financing Scheme to provide targeted fiscal incentives. Proposed strategies include tax holidays for waste recycling entrants and reduced import duties on essential raw materials for local manufacturing.
Prof. Otanocha concluded by emphasizing that engineers must be “moral agents” who ensure the benefits of development are shared fairly. “Let there be light,” he declared, “in our factories, our policies, and our future”.
