Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I am an Engineer, a boys2men coach and mentor, a humanitarian and sustainable environment enthusiast.
Tell us about your career journey so far.
I obtained my BEng in Metallurgical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria in 2006.
I worked as a Relationship Officer in the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc for over a year. Since then,I have worked with the Research and Development Centre of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria where I was involved in developing new materials, failure analysis, materials characterisation and non-destructive testing and examination of materials. I have also worked on several research, design and manufacturing projects and developing new products for my corporation and its clients.
My quest to understand materials at the microscopic scale led me to study MSc in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom in 2022. I am currently a Demonstrator/Tutor at the University of Glasgow in Design and Manufacture.
What was your favourite subject in school and why?
My favourites subject fluctuates (haha). I guess it was because of the way it was taught. It was technical drawing and mathematics in my high school days, then later it was chemistry and physics when I enrolled to make up for the failed subjects.
I guess the fluctuations were because of the way I was taught. Different teachers with different ways and skills of teaching. I was so in love with mathematics, physics, and chemistry but chemistry was my favourite.
What subjects/qualifications/skills are useful for your role?
Physics and chemistry are instrumental to understanding materials and their behaviour. The atomic and molecular arrangement govern the properties the materials have in terms of their strength, electrical, magnetic properties, and host of others. This is a fundamental guide in material selection for use in engineering components.
Mathematical skills are key to understanding the principle of calculus which help in high level analysis and design in engineering. Technical drawing also helps in giving engineers basic design understanding as they go through the undergraduate studies.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
It’s exciting to know that I am a part of those engineers and scientists who can make new materials, advised on where they can be used and to detect why they fail or may fail.
For me, this is saving lives, money, and properties. In this field, I get to interact with renowned professors and researchers but most importantly, is being able to assist students get solutions to the many problems they encounter during their labs.
What is a normal day in your role like?
I have worked in a mechanical research laboratory where I prepare test documents to carried out different test like tensile, compressive, flexural, impact, creep test on different materials ranging from polymers to metals and their alloys. I do this to know the properties each of these materials possess and to advise on the areas they can be used.
Where the properties of the materials fall short, I advise on alternative materials to be use or any alteration that can be made on the materials to meet the require properties it was intended for.
And what does your job title mean?
As a Material and Metallurgical Engineer, I am involved in the design and manufacturing of new materials.
Also, I investigate the properties of both the new and old materials to understand them and know how they will behave under certain conditions.
Can you suggest an activity that could be done at home that illustrates an aspect of your work?
The field of materials science and engineering is fascinating. It involves both creating new materials and enhancing those that already exist and has significant applications for both bettering daily living and advancing other scientific disciplines.
An activity can be develop from the combination of 2 materials (composite) to improve their properties and comparing their strength against the one that exist alone so the student can understand better.