Why younger generation should consider STEM programmes —Adegbesan

Olusegun Adegbesan, a US-based electrical engineer in this interview with NURUDEEN ALIMI shares information about why it is imperative for the younger generation to consider programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and reasons he feels electric vehicles will dominate the global scene in the future:

CAN you share your background, and what led you to being a science student?

I was born and raised in Ibadan to a Christian family. I am the third born in a family of four. I attended Sacred Heart Private School; a Catholic-based school where Christian values were taught, and we were encouraged to practice them. I attended Government College Ibadan for my junior secondary education, and I later moved to Wesley College of Science Ibadan, for my senior secondary education.

As a kid, I was inspired to love science and technology by movies, especially FBI movies and James Bond movies where science and technology prowess are displayed. Further, I was enrolled in an extramural class as far back as my first year in junior secondary school. There I had a teacher that adored science students and made science adorable and prestigious to me at that tender age. She failed Mathematics woefully during her younger age and made it her goal to inspire young kids to love Mathematics and science younger generation through her classes. This further developed my keen interest in science and mathematics. I was top in my class during this period and was a proud member of the Junior Engineering Technicians and Scientist (JETS club). I represented our school in various events.

I did very well in my WAEC and JAMB exam and I moved on to the University to study electrical engineering.

 

What electrical engineering (or computer engineering, IT) projects did you work on over the course of your education and careers in Nigeria?

After I completed my bachelor’s degree, as a high skilled engineer, I worked on several projects at the intersection of electrical and computer engineering. I built several pieces of software for hospital information/data management, and software for providing administrative support for non-profit organizations such as church. These are still being used in these organisations today. I also built software for remote data access like TeamViewer, and Programmable LED display board.

 

What advice do you have for younger people both in Nigeria and all over the world with similar background to you?

I encourage the younger generation to stay committed and focused. If I can achieve something great in life, I believe that they too can succeed and be great achievers. Education is the key, and they should consciously look out for these opportunities. The fact that we have problems in our world today is a sign that there are many opportunities for young scientists and engineers to develop new skills to solve these problems.

Science can be used to make the world a better place. I encourage the younger generation to go for more of STEM programmes and seek creativity in their pursuit. There are vast opportunities to be explored because of the unique challenges in our societies today. This is what will bring growth, development and prosperity.

 

Why did you decide to travel to the USA to pursue another advance degree in Engineering?

I wanted to learn from the best technologically advanced country and higher education institution after obtaining a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. I have dreams and ideas to do extraordinary things in electrical and computer engineering and United States is a great place that will give me more opportunity to continue to excel in this field.

 

What are the major insights about application of electrical and computer engineering to 21st-century problems that you gained by studying for advanced degree in the United State?

Integration of Emerging Technologies Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) professionals leverage AI and ML to optimise complex systems, such as energy grids, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare diagnostics. For example, smart grid technologies use AI to improve energy efficiency and integration of renewable energy sources. This is one of the top insights that I gained, especially in relation to electric and autonomous vehicles.

I also learned about the Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices are increasingly used for smart homes, agriculture, and city infrastructure, requiring ECE expertise in low-power design, wireless communication, and system integration. These are other areas where I am also highly skilled.

I have a lot of ideas for the application of electrical and computer engineering to electric vehicles and the battery technology and battery chargers for the automobile industries. The future relies greatly on expanding this technology to make it more efficient and more affordable. Developing powerful, long-lasting batteries and efficient chargers for them are crucial to ensuring that these technologies meet the 21st-century demand.

I also gained insight on advanced research in renewable energy (solar, wind, and battery technologies) focuses on mitigating climate change. Electrical engineers are crucial in designing efficient energy systems and advancing grid integration for renewable energy.

With the increasing reliance on digital systems, cybersecurity is a critical area for ECE. Research focuses on developing secure hardware, encryption methods, and real-time threat detection to protect sensitive information. My education in the United States gave me exposure to this as well.

 

Where do you work now and what problem are you trying to solve for humanity?

The future is electric, and I currently work in an electric vehicle (EV) industry where we produce DC fast chargers. Future cities are being built on the foundation of electricity to power their technology whether it is the automobile, aviation, home appliance and all sectors of the industries. Our goal is to create fast charging systems for EVs that will charge almost the same way as gas (petrol) vehicles work. To charge EVs between 0 to 80 percent withing 5 to 7 minutes. We will also create infrastructures across the United States and the world for EV fast charging accessibility. To achieve this, our company is in partnership with some global brands to start installing our chargers in countryside especially beside gas stations across America.

 

What do you see yourself accomplishing in this field in 10 to 20 years from now?

I hope to give back to the society by contributing significantly to the automobile industry through development of new technology for electric vehicles and rechargeable battery technology. My role in the electric vehicle industry will affect millions of lives across the world. In 10 to 20 years, I ought to have developed great technology for this. I also hope to mentor and educate the younger generation of engineers on the importance of doing the right things and investing into themselves.

 

What are your major accomplishments as an electrical and computer engineer in Nigeria?

While in Nigeria, my major accomplishments as an electrical/computer engineer are in the PABX integration for pulling call Centre data and Avaya Aura Contact Centre Display Dashboard App development. My exceptional skills as an engineer also gave me the opportunity to work at Shell Nigeria, the company where most top engineers in Nigeria desire to work. I worked at Shell in different capacities as an engineer, which included working within the Information Technology Team as a software developer. I also managed union activities and was involved in the development of local content, which was my last deployment before I left to further my education in the United States.

READ ALSO: NCAA holds consumer awareness programme in Abuja