History of the Department

The University of Abuja was established in January, 1988 and academic work started in 1990. Its establishment was aimed at forging national unity by providing a conductive environment for learning and interaction for the youths from all parts of Nigeria. The Senate of the University at its 92nd Regular Meeting held on 27th October, 2004 approved the establishment of the Department of Electrical&Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering with effect from 2005/2006 Session. The Programme took off at the mini campus, University of Abuja situated at Gwagwalada. The Department runs a 5-year degree Programme leading to the award of the Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng) degree in Electrical&Electronic Engineering.

Academic activities commenced with an initial intake of nine (9) undergraduate students into 100 level in 2005/2006 and by 2006/2007 the Department had Six pioneer academic staff ( 1 No. Senior lecturers, 1 Nos. Lecturer I and 4 No. Lecturer II ) 2 Nos. Technical staff. Engr. J.S Adedibu was appointed the pioneer Head of Department with effect from 1st June 2007 under the pioneer Dean of Engineering (Engr. Prof. F. O. Akinbode). In the year 2008 more staff were recruited to the department, these include: 2 Nos Lecturer II. 1 No Senior Technologist and 1 No Technologist II. At inception, the Department of Electrical&Electronic Engineering among others was situated in the Mini Campus at Gwagwalada. However, in September, 2011 the Department of Electrical&Electronic Engineering alongside other three Departments in the Faculty was directed to move to the Engineering workshop building at the Main Campus along Giri-Airport road, Abuja.

The Engineering Programmes in the University of Abuja failed both the NUC and COREN accreditations in 2010, which led to the stoppage of admission into the Progammes. Hence, with effect from 2010/2011 academic session no candidate was admitted into the B. Eng. (Electrical&Electronic) Programme. However, as a result of the Resource Assessment Visit by the NUC in November, 2012, approval was granted by the NUC to the university to establish Electrical&Electronic Engineering (B.Eng) Programme in a letter dated 5th February, 2013 ref NUC/Es/475/VOL.17/130 without prejudice to the existing students. In the 2014/2015 academic session, the Department started admission into 100 level Electrical&Electronic Engineering and as at present, we have students at 300 level.

As at 2011/2012 academic session, a total of seventy-two (72) undergraduate students had enrolled into the Programme. In year 2013, the students in the 300 and 400 levels were farmed out to the University of Ilorin because of the accreditation challenges. While the 500 level students comprising of the 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 sessions were sent to Federal University of Technology, Minna for a year intensive training as part of their graduation requirement in accordance with the directive given by the National Universities Commission. Thereafter, they returned to the University of Abuja for their graduation and award of the University of Abuja degree. At the end of the 2012/2013 session, in September 2014, all the students graduated.

Over the years, the quality and quantity of staffing in the Department had improved. At present the academic staff consists of 1 No Professor, 2No. Associate Professor, 6 Nos Senior lecturers, 6Nos Lecturer I, 2 Nos Technologists (1 No Chief Technologist, 1 No Principal Technologist). In the period 30th November to 3rd December 2014, the NUC visited the Department for the purpose of accrediatation. At the end of the exercise, the Department was given interim accrediatation status. The Department has been growing in the area of student enrolment, professional development, collaboarations and Industrial visits to expose our under graduate students to Practical Engineering. Also in June 2019, the Department got a donation of four Luban workshops (Power , Electronics, Communication and Innovation Labs) which is being used for training purposes for undergraduate students and as research for the post graduate students. Collaboration with Tanjian Sino German University and National Center for Artificial Intelligence for undergraduate and postgraduate research is on. The Department also recently reactivated an MoU with National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) with a view to research collaboration, staff development and exchange programme and a host of other mutually benefitial activities.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme educational objectives of the department (PEOs) are to produce Engineering graduates who shall possess the following attributes:

1. PEO1 – Ability to become a high level, self-reliant graduate with the technological know-how to exercise original thought, have good professional judgment and be able to take responsibility for the direction of important tasks.
2. PEO2 - The ability to design Engineering projects and supervise their constructions, install and manage complex engineering systems so that they can perform optimally in an environment.
3. PEO3 - To engage in lifelong learning and professional development with proficient soft skills via postgraduate education and participation in professional organizations in order to compete excellently both at the local and global levels.
4. PEO4 - The ability to manage people’s fund, materials and equipment diligently.
5. PEO5 - The ability to improve on indigenous and global technology and to develop links with local and international industries to enhance both local and global problem solving capability.

In pursuance of the above, specific features have been incorporated into the Programme. These include:

1. Common foundation courses at 100 and 200 levels for all engineering students.
2. Workshop practice, technology, laboratory work and tutorials
3. Design projects with bias towards local applications.
4. Broad-based engineering and interaction between students and professionals.
5. Project in the final year on which the student works alone under supervision in specific areas of electrical electronics engineering.
6. Special skill and in-depth study in a particular area of the Programme through optional courses or electives.
7. Adequate knowledge in the areas of engineering management, economics, law and information technology.
8. Six months of supervised industrial training during the second semester of the fourth year.

The academic Programme has been planned to offer challenges and to encourage the development of ingenuity and originality in the student. The corner stone of this is an early grounding in the basic engineering sciences and a strong emphasis in Applied Design in the later years.