The Students’ Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC) which held on the 15TH January, 2019 was organized by the IEEE University of Ibadan Student Branch and Society of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Students University of Ibadan (SEEES UI).
As part of the activities lined up for the much anticipated SEEES week, the career day was a major highlight of the week. It was such an educative and entertaining event with hundreds of students from the departments and others present. One thing that stood out during this event was that innovation is not too far-fetched from students in Nigeria. It was emphasized to the
students that if they were ready to be dedicated and determined, they could achieve anything they wanted to. The students were told to realize that all they had to do was think innovatively and creatively to proffer solutions for Nigeria and the world at large.

     
The event began at 10:30 a.m. with the opening remarks given by Aduragbemi Adetunji the career day committee head. This was followed by an IEEE video that explained what IEEE is all about and how they are about advancing technology for humanity. The video showed how collaboration is important to changing the world at large.
After this, there was a debate on the topic, ‘Does school kill creativity?’. It was an interesting debate where two students from 300 level in the department gave opposing speeches. The first speech was given by Elushade Oluwatumininu who spoke about how school kills creativity, making people think in just one direction and stifling creativity. He spoke about how the creative
arts such as dancing are not encouraged by the school, especially the Nigerian school environment.

The second speech was given by Olaboade Esther Damilola, who made the audience see that the school actually helps creativity. She showed that school can help us think out of the box, she also spoke about how the school gives the raw materials needed for us to imagine and think up something new that could change the way things are in the world. Elushade Oluwatumininu came to seal the debate by bringing both sides together saying, that ‘Whether school kills creativity or not, you decide, and it’s left to keep your creativity in or let it out’.
After the debate, one of the most insightful parts of the event followed, the keynote speaker, Pastor Olubi Johnson came up. His citation was given by Ebunoluwa Alabi, the SEEES president. He expressed his joy for being given the opportunity to speak to students and spoke at length about innovation in the global market. He narrated stories and made the students see that they
could achieve anything that they wanted to. His session was very insightful and inspiring. His eloquence and fatherly stance made the participants very attentive and it was well worth it.

The Second Speaker, Engr Dapo Sosanya, spoke on how to enter into the Global Market with Innovation. He gave us a perspective shift, by showing us to make long term plans(i.e. thinking ahead in 10 years). He also recommended two books; “The Startup Nation” and “The Prime Ministers”. He encouraged us that our background is not an issue, but with the right tools
(Discovery, Engineering and Transformation), we can get out there and make positive impact.

The third speaker, Demilade Adesiyan, from GE Garage Lagos, spoke on 4 C’s which were Context, Concept, Competence and Collaboration. He used his experience to show clearly the route to innovation that will be sustainable and attainable.

After these three speakers had spoken, there was a panelist discussion comprising of young experts who were enthralled to answer the questions of students present about innovation in Nigeria. The panelists were; Babafemi Adewumi from Wennovation Hub, Toyin Ajilore a Lecturere from the University of Ibadan and also Director of Grassroot Hub, Praise Olutuase, Laolu Omokanwaiye both from Linux Professional Institute Innovation Hub and Ibukun Adegbulugbe.
They answered the questions very brilliantly and taught gracefully. The participants were well educated and from the conference, braced to make more impact with not just technology, but the ability to solve problems that they have among them. One of the major action points from the discussion was the drive to make the participants think consistently about the challenges they need to solve.

The fourth speaker, Dr Ayoola Olusola, Founder of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria, (RAIN) came up to round up the event with a brief speech making us see that there was more if only we decided to think out of the box.
Certificates of Appreciation and Honorarium were presented to the speakers as a token of our appreciation for coming to grace us with not just their presence, but their knowledge.

The Student Professional Conference recorded over 230 persons in attendance and it was a huge success where both speakers and students were smiling to cameras and their futures assured that what lay ahead would only speak a better Nigeria for all. The Looking forward, it is expected that this conference would have spurred many young minds to work as hard as they are able to build things will change the face of the country and the world at large.
Olufemi Balogun, the IEEEUISB Chair, gave the Vote of Thanks and Appreciation to everyone present at the event.
By 3:15 pm, the event was concluded.