A Professor of Machine and Process Design and Applied Ergonomics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Sesan Peter Ayodeji, has called for a decisive shift toward human-centred and process-driven innovation in Nigeria’s engineering sector, warning that technology alone cannot deliver sustainable development.
Ayodeji made the call on Tuesday while delivering the institution’s 197th inaugural lecture titled “Human Factor, Manufacturing, and Technology: The Triple Helix Driving Our Journey into the Future.”
He argued that effective engineering systems must integrate human factors, operational processes, and technology, stressing that innovation should be evaluated based on usability, adaptability, and relevance to local realities rather than mere technological sophistication.
The professor faulted what he described as the growing obsession with acquiring advanced tools without considering the environments where they are deployed. According to him, machines and automated systems can only perform optimally when supported by stable processes and human-centred design.
Drawing on years of research spanning ergonomics, anthropometric design, manufacturing systems, agro-processing, and automation, Ayodeji emphasised that solutions must respond to real users and production conditions, not just theoretical efficiency models.
“A nation that seeks competitive industry must invest in people, stabilise its processes, and apply technology with wisdom,” he said, noting that manufacturing excellence depends on respecting the human factor, strengthening production systems, and deploying technology as a disciplined tool.
He proposed the adoption of a “triple helix” model—integrating human factors, processes, and technology—across teaching, research, industry, and policy. According to him, this approach would drive sustained competitiveness, improve safety, and enhance productivity.
Ayodeji also highlighted several innovations linked to his research, including systems for monitoring bolt torqueing on telecommunication masts, plantain flour processing plants, Android-based body mass index measurement tools, and packaging machines for particulate materials.
Beyond research outputs, the professor outlined a roadmap for Nigeria’s engineering and industrial advancement. He urged stakeholders to prioritise outcome-based research assessment, align funding and procurement with local relevance, and establish a FUTA-led innovation translation pipeline to move laboratory breakthroughs into industrial application.
He further advocated responsible adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence through human-centred implementation, alongside strengthening manufacturing capacity in reliability, quality control, and energy efficiency.
Ayodeji stressed that ergonomics should be treated as a productivity strategy rather than merely a safety requirement, while also calling for the development of a national anthropometry and engineering data infrastructure to support locally relevant design systems.
Highlighting his contributions to national development, Ayodeji recalled his recognition in 2022 with the Nigeria Prize for Science for developing a plantain flour processing plant with implications for food value addition. He also led a FUTA research team that produced a cost-effective ventilator during the COVID-19 pandemic, built largely from locally sourced materials.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Adenike Oladiji, described the lecture as a reflection of the university’s commitment to impactful research. She commended Ayodeji’s contributions to engineering and national development, noting that his work exemplifies research aligned with societal needs.
Oladiji reaffirmed the institution’s focus on promoting innovation that is not only academically sound but also practical, maintainable, and responsive to local challenges.
The lecture underscored the need for a more practical, people-oriented approach to engineering development in Nigeria, with stakeholders urged to prioritise solutions that deliver measurable and lasting impact.
