ENGINEERING NIGERIA'S FUTURE: Prof Ideriah's Blunt Diagnosis of Corruption and Decay
Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi,Vice-Chancellor, Rivers State University in his opening remark at the 5th Public Retirement Lecture
By Destiny Tamunoala Emmanuel
Esteemed Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Felix Joseph Kio Ideriah, has identified deep-seated corruption, epitomised by the alleged "50% rule" in contract awards, and inadequate practical training as major obstacles to Nigeria's development.
Speaking at Rivers State University (RSU) during his retirement public lecture, the academic icon urged the government to empower its qualified engineers and tackle the foundational issues of resource control to solve problems ranging from infrastructural decay to oil theft.
The lecture, titled "Reflections on Engineering Solutions For Nation Building," was held at the Senate Chamber of the Dr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike Senate Building, drawing a distinguished audience of academics, traditional rulers, and industry leaders to celebrate the professor's 40-year career.
The Chairman of the occasion, HRM King Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel (Owukori IX), delivered the opening remarks, setting a tone of deep respect for the honouree.
He lauded the multifaceted life of Professor Ideriah, affectionately known as "FJK," highlighting his significant contributions beyond the lecture hall.
The King praised him as a highly respected and effective member of the Abonnema Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, an influential community leader, and a dedicated church elder.
Declaring the lecture open, King Bob-Manuel expressed his keen interest in the topic and congratulated the professor on his numerous achievements.
The Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, welcomed the attendees and described the event as a special moment for the institution.
He noted that lectures are a core feature of university life, but this retirement lecture was unique because of the lecturer's status as a foundational member of the university, having joined in 1983, just three years after its establishment. "He is one of the first professors this university promoted," the Vice-Chancellor stated, adding that the lecture's theme aligns perfectly with the university's mission to provide solutions for the Niger Delta region.
Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasised the lecturer's vast experience in teaching, administration, and industry, noting that the university community stood to benefit immensely from his wealth of knowledge. He also warmly pointed out that Professor Ideriah has contributed biologically as well as academically, being the father of a professor at the university.
In his lecture, Professor Ideriah drew from his extensive career to outline tangible engineering solutions that have shaped industries.
He reflected on his development of Jet Impingement Furnaces at the British Steel Corporation, a technology that improved metal heating processes. His work on Pipe Network Analysis for entities like Shell optimised water distribution systems.
Furthermore, he detailed his formulation of a theory to harness solar energy, stressing Africa's immense potential, and his pioneering research in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), which has enabled a better understanding of complex fluid flows. Beyond his industrial work, he authored seven volumes on fluid mechanics, turbo machinery, and CFD, significantly enhancing engineering education.
Professor Ideriah did not shy away from the challenges facing the profession in Nigeria, stressing the urgent need for improved standards, robust practical training, and industry-academia collaboration to combat corruption and address the nation's glaring infrastructure deficit.
Following the lecture, the Chairman, HRM King Bob-Manuel, gave his closing remarks. He observed how the professor's deep faith permeated his presentation, noting, "every step of it has been spiced with his usual thanks and appreciation to the almighty God." He quoted from the lecture booklet, highlighting two key messages: that academic work is based on experience and intellectual capacity, not physical strength, and that "even in old age the godly will still produce fruits." He concluded by thanking the university for providing the platform and revealed another side of the professor as the president of a famous social club in Abonnema, the Kengema Mina-ogbo
The vote of thanks was moved by the Chairman of the University Lectures Committee, Professor Patrick, who commended Professor Ideriah for his masterful delivery. "You agree with me that Professor F. K. J. Ideriah took us through historical engineering models as if he was telling the story of the tortoise and the monkey, as seamless as it was," he remarked, before thanking the audience for their attendance.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after the programme, Professor Ideriah elaborated on the path forward for Nigeria. Using Neil Armstrong's famous quote, he emphasised that engineering begins with "one small step of a man" that becomes "one giant leap of mankind," citing the evolution from a simple matchbox-and-string communication device to today's Artificial Intelligence.
When asked why Nigeria was lagging, he was unequivocal. "Nigeria's problem for these two missions, there's a lot of corruption. I even talked about people talking about the 50% rule, i.e. if you're awarding a contract, 50% is not available... It has to be zero so that Nigeria can move."
He also lamented that people not registered by COREN (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria) are undertaking critical engineering works.
On the way forward, he pointed to COREN's efforts to introduce a mandatory one-year practical learning period for engineering graduates before their national youth service.
When pressed on the government's role, particularly regarding abandoned projects like the Port Harcourt monorail, he noted a lack of accountability. "You must look at the feasibility of the project... if it is, then pump 100 percent of money into it, not 50 percent rule."
Addressing the pervasive issue of oil theft, Professor Ideriah attributed it to two main factors: poverty and the historical injustice meted out to the oil-producing communities. "The heavenly father has placed each one of us in different places," he explained. "Our own top-top is oil. You must consider the owners." He recalled the shift from a 50% derivation formula in the era of groundnut and cocoa to just 1% when oil became the mainstay, arguing that this injustice is at the root of the problem.
His final message was a plea to the government to utilise its vast pool of qualified engineers. "Allow small steps to be, and then we'll go to the mighty step for mankind."
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