National Achievement in Engineering

Ejibe Nmachukwu Genevieve, a 300-level student in the Department of Mechatronics Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has emerged as the second runner-up in the individual category of the Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology (CODET) National Competition.

Genevieve’s journey to the national stage began with a first-place victory at the South-East Regional Competition. Representing the region at the national finals in Abuja, her innovation stood out among projects from across the country, securing her third place nationally. The achievement underscores the growing prominence of student-led technological research within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Technical Design and Functionality

Her award-winning project, titled “Design and Development of a Real-Time Environment Monitoring System for Detecting Life-Threatening Gas Emissions in the Air,” addresses critical public safety and environmental challenges. The system is a portable device engineered to monitor air quality and detect harmful gas levels in real time to prevent domestic and industrial accidents.

The innovation integrates several fields of engineering, including Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Key technical features include:

• Use of MQ-7 and MQ-135 sensors to detect hazardous gas emissions.
• A Next.js full-stack web dashboard for remote data transmission and monitoring.
• Real-time push notifications sent to users when gas levels exceed safety thresholds.
• A piezo buzzer fail-safe mechanism that triggers an audible alarm even in the absence of internet connectivity.

Resilience Amidst Presentation Hurdles

Genevieve’s success at the national level was achieved despite significant logistical challenges. Reports indicate she received notification of the national event on very short notice, leaving minimal time for preparation. Furthermore, her arrival in Abuja was delayed by a flight disruption, and a technical failure occurred when the projector stopped working during her final presentation.

Demonstrating professional resilience, she pivoted to using her laptop for the demonstration and engaged the judges and audience by allowing them to interact directly with the working prototype. This hands-on demonstration of the system’s functionality and her ability to remain composed under pressure contributed to her high ranking by the competition officials.

Promoting Practical Technological Solutions

The university administration, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ikechukwu Nosike Dozie, has highlighted this achievement as a testament to FUTO’s focus on practical learning and multidisciplinary creativity. The institution emphasized that Genevieve’s work moves beyond theoretical academic requirements to provide a functional solution for real-world environmental and safety concerns.

Following her win, Genevieve expressed gratitude to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Remy Uche, for facilitating her participation and providing necessary support. She also acknowledged her coordinator, Engr. Daniel Ekpechi, for his role in encouraging students to engage in national engineering challenges and innovation-driven competitions. Her performance reinforces the potential of student innovators to drive sustainable development through technology-driven service.