Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

Engr. Dr. Davidson Dimabo Davis

Ag. Head of Department
ProfileStatus
NameEngr. Dr. Davidson Dimabo Davis
RankSenior Lecturer
Home TownKula
Place of BirthBuguma
Contact AddressRivers State University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Port Harcourt.
Marital Status Married
Number of DependantsThree
Local Govt. AreaAKULGA
State of OriginRivers
TribeKalabari
E-maildavis.davidson@ust.edu.ng; davisdimabo@gmail.com
Phone08106299048

Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering started in the 1970s as the Department of Agricultural Engineering in the Faculty of Agriculture of the then College of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, which continued up to the 1980s when the College became Rivers State University of Science and Technology. In 1990, the Department of Agricultural Engineering demerged from the Faculty of Agriculture and merged with the Faculty of Engineering, where it is currently domiciled.

Following the recommendation of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Accreditation Team in 2002, the Senate of the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology approved the addition of the Environmental Engineering option to the academic curriculum of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and the change of name to Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering in 2003. In 2004, the Department received full accreditation from COREN and the National Universities Commission (NUC), which it has consistently retained until date.

The Department runs a programme, which leads to a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) degree in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering within a period of five academic sessions with two long vacations and one semester (i.e., 10 months) of compulsory practical training in industries to emphasize the practical orientation of the B. Tech. degree. In addition to running the B. Tech. degree programme, the Department also runs programmes that lead to the award of Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering and Master of Technology (M. Tech.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in five areas of specialization according to the defined Benchmarks Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) of the NUC. These programmes include Farm Power and Machinery Engineering, Farm Structures and Environmental Control Engineering, Agricultural Products Processing and Storage Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

The Department has qualified resident and visiting academics in the five areas of specialization as well as emerging areas such as Precision Agriculture. It has a Farm Workshop equipped to handle tractor repair and maintenance, cutting, fitting, milling, and welding operations. The Department also has well-equipped laboratories situated between Chemical/Petrochemical and Civil Engineering laboratories. In addition to these, students of the Department have direct access to laboratories at the Faculty of Science, Institute of Pollution Studies, and laboratories of other engineering departments. Students of the Department also get excellent support from enthusiastic academics and committed technical and secretarial staff. The Department focuses on professional practical elements of study and development of transferable skills, which our students need to function effectively in the industries. The multidisciplinary nature of the Department also increases the opportunities for social mobility of our graduates, which makes the Department unique. The Department joins the Management of the University to wish you the best as you join the journey of progress and success.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department has two Boards that are responsible for the decision making process in matters that strictly concern the Department. These Boards are:    (i) The Departmental Board; and   (ii) The Board of Examiners. The Departmental Board, which is made up of all senior staff of the Department, including senior non-academic staff, deliberates on issues of general interests to the Department. The Departmental Board of Examiners is made up of only academic staff and it considers academic matters as it affects the students. To facilitate the activities of these Boards, members of staff are allocated specific duties as well. Examples of these include having staff in-charge of issues like Examination, Postgraduate matters, Calendar and Timetable, Research and Publications, and Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). The Department involves in teaching and supervising students’ projects, theses and dissertation for the undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Department gives professional advice about their careers challenges and is fully engaged the administration of the unit.

STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Department, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt is one of the seven Departments that makes up the Faculty of Engineering. Consequently, the Head of Department is responsible directly to the Dean of Faculty for the day-to-day running of the Department

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department has a Farm Workshop equipped to handle tractor repair and maintenance, cutting, fitting, milling, and welding operations. In addition to these, students of the Department have direct access to equipment and facilities at the Faculty of Science, Institute of Pollution Studies, Civil Engineering laboratories and Mechanical Engineering in the University. The Department had ran her programs for many academic sessions without its own Laboratories since the inception of the programmes. In 2017 during Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) accreditation, the University donated Charkin building for the Departmental Laboratories. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering is currently using a temporary space at this Charkin building in the University premises. While this is sufficient for a start, due to lack of Departmental laboratories since the inception of the programmes. This Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Laboratories consist of Farm Power and Machinery Engineering/Farm Structure and Environmental Control Engineering Laboratories, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering/Environmental Engineering Laboratories. These Laboratories to some extents were not equipped. Students of the Department are also given considerable support by enthusiastic academics and committed technical and secretarial staff. The Department focuses on professional, practical elements of study and development of transferable skills, which our students need to function effectively especially in the industries. The multidisciplinary nature of the Department also increases the opportunities for social mobility of graduates. This makes the Department quite unique.

 

        The Department is structured to be the breeding ground of innovation. In fact   some of the final year students of the Department have produced products that have solved economic problems in the society. In 2017 a final year student under the supervision of lecturer in the Department produced a Kitchen- Size Garri Storage Unit. The garri stored in it since 2017 has been preserved for four (4) years without spoiled. This machine is to be available in Nigerian market for commercial purposes. In 2018/2019 academic session, Weeding Machine, Multi-purpose Juice extractor, Fish Feed Dryer and Lawn Mowing Machine were produced by final years students under the supervision our lecturers in the Department.  It is worth commending that in 2019 during NUC preparation for accreditation the university equipped the laboratories to a considerable level. This is a commendable achievement and breakthrough in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering.

                In 2020/2021 academic session, Agricultural Soil Cone Penetrometer, a Low-velocity Bench-Top Laboratory Fume Hood with a motorized sash, Laboratory Scale of a Municipal Solid Waste Dryer and an Electronic Precision Soil Auger were produced by final year students under the supervision of the lecturers in the Department.

                In 2021/2022 academic session, there has been a considerable reduction in Students complaint on result related issues. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering has established a Departmental Welfare Committee to care and foster mutual relationship among the staff of the Department.

 There was a renovation work at the Departmental Workshop due to the frequent cases of theft and    burglary incidences which occurred at our Workshop. It will be recalled that ever since this renovation was done, burglary cases had been to a halt.

  The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering had full accreditation of the Department   during the last NUC Accreditation exercise.

 UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Collaboration with Industries /Parastatal / Ministries.

Department of Agricultural & Environmental Engineering is intensifying her efforts in collaboration with Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, and Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute in the areas of training, manpower development and practical farming and maintenance of farm machines and equipment through industrial attachment scheme.

 

  • Equipping of Departmental Workshop and Laboratories.

The Departmental Farm Workshop and Laboratories are inadequately equipped. The Workshop lacks many equipment, implements and instruments for maintenance services and many environmental equipment for Environmental Laboratories. Equipment and implements are some of the major challenges confronting the Department. Farm Power and Machinery Engineering is in need of Soil Tillage Laboratory for tractions and tracficability experiments.

 

  • Expansion of Departmental Laboratories space.

The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering is currently using a temporary space at Charkin building in the university premises, which needs expansion of the space. While this is sufficient for a start, due to lack of Departmental laboratories since the inception of the programmes. It is imperative for the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering to have adequate laboratory space.

  • Departmental Journal (JAEET).

There is the need to revitalize the Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Technology (JAEET).

PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEPARTMENT

The thrust of the programme is predicated on the growing concern to bridge the gap in the theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering with a view to proffering solutions to emerging agricultural, environmental, and rural development problems of organic societies. Its design focuses on an understanding of values, realities and the basic principles of agricultural/environmental engineering programmes as they relate to machines, structures, and systems. More so, it highlights the processes for the production, processing, preservation, storage and marketing of food/fibre, as well as the conservation and development of environment/natural resources. This is in line with the global trend in the Agricultural and Environmental Engineering profession.

OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT

The objectives of the B. Tech. degree programme in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (among others) are to:

  • Train professional candidates capable of applying engineering principles and practices to the solution of problems in agricultural production and the environment.
  • Train engineering professionals capable of eliminating or reducing the drudgery inherent in agricultural operations and creating incentives to have skilled people remain on the farm as well as guaranteeing quality environment.
  • Train engineering personnel capable of reducing the hazards of farming by engineering safer operations and optimizing time in agricultural production.
  • Train engineering professionals who can design processes and machines, manufacture, utilize, maintain, and repair equipment for agricultural and environmental activities.
  • Train professional candidates who can improve on or retain the quality of farm products over a period of time, through the modification or control of the environment; and
  • Train engineering personnel who can conserve and manage more efficiently natural and man-made resources and the environment.

PROSPECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT

There are prospects for the department through the Workshop in a number of areas as follows, if the necessary provisions are made:

 

1. Training of Tractor Drivers– The Workshop has one of the most capable tractor operators in Rivers State who was trained during the School-To-Land Programme era of the Rivers State Government. With at least two (2) tractors and two (2) other tractor operators to be recruited, the department can institutionalize Consultancy in Training of Tractor Drivers.

 

2. Tractor and Automobile Maintenance– The Workshop has a service pit, the only one in the whole university. There are auto-mechanic tool boxes and other accessories. Again, the only mechanic is very skilled in both tractors and automobile maintenance. If four (4) other mechanics (two diesel and two auto-mobile) are employed, the department through the workshop can in addition to teaching and research, run consultancy services in this area – that is, maintenance and repairs.

 

  3.Tractor Services – Given the right provisions, that is, dependable new tractors, at least three – one for departmental uses and two for external purposes, the department can run tractor consultancy or hiring services such as maintenance of lawns, slashing of oil pipeline surroundings, land preparation (tillage operations), soil remediation services, and so on. It is noteworthy that the department, through the Workshop had rendered these services in the past when there were good tractors and implements.

 

  1. Fabrication of Small Farm Machines– In times past, when the Workshop had welders, machinists and correspondingly good machines, the Workshop was a mini-fabrication hub. Lecturers and students with designs of machines that needed fabrication did so conveniently in the Workshop. Deterioration had set in with time; but this can be reversed if the required attention in terms of equipment and personnel is given. Small farm machines can be fabricated at the Workshop with proper funding.

 

5.    Support Services for the University Farm– In times past, the Workshop had artisans of various kinds including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, machinists, and so on. So, the Workshop used to perform support services for the Farm such as land preparation, maintenance of the feed mill, maintenance of electrical installations, plumbing works and maintenance, and so on. The Workshop can re-enact this feat if the appropriate personnel, equipment and funding needs are provided.

 

A Chart of the Organizational Structure of the Department is as Shown Below

Staff list in the Department

NameRankArea of Specialisation Email
Engr. Dr. D. D. Davis Senior Lecturer/Ag. HODPost-Harvest Processing, Environmental Engineeringdavis.davidson@ust.edu.ngdavis.davidson@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. M. J. Ayotamuno Professor Soil and Water Engineering Engineer/Environmental Engineeringayotamuno.josiah@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. S. O. Nkakini Professor Farm Power and Machinery Engineeringnkakini.silas@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. Isotim. Fubara-Manuel ProfessorSoil and Water Engineeringfubara-manuel.isoteim@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. A. H. IgoniProfessorFarm Power and Machinery Engineeringasinyetogha.igoni@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. R. N. OkparanmaProfessorEnvironmental Engineeringokparanma.reuben@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Dr. Mrs. Erewari Ukoha-OnuohaSenior LecturerSoil and Water Conservation/Environmental Engineeringerewari038@gmail.com
Mr. Opiriari P. PrincewillLecturer IPost- Harvesting Processing Engineeringopiriari.princewill@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Mrs. Ibiye D. Amafabia Lecturer IEnvironmental Engineeringibiyeharry@yahoo.com
Engr. Achinike Okogbule-Wonodi Lecturer IEnvironmental Engineering achiewonodi@gmail.com
Engr. (Mrs). Eunice D. Macpepple Lecturer ISoil and Water Engineering macency@yahoo.com
Engr. Cyprian N. Tom Lecturer IEnvironmental Engineeringndamzitom@yahoo.com
Engr. Dr. Uyeawaji B. Ntesat Lecturer IEnvironmental Engineeringbrownson.ntesat@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Beabu B. Dumkhana Lecturer IIEnvironmental Engineeringbdumkhana@gmail.com
Engr. Rapheal B . JumboAssistant LecturerSoil and Water Engineering/ Environmental Engineering
Engr. Dandison M. WaliTechnologist Idandyson.wali@ust.edu.ng
Mr. Gift M. KakoroTechnologist Imilliousgift@gmail.com
Engr. (Mrs) Faith N. UdenzeTechnologist Ichukufaihng2014@gmail.com
Engr. Johnson D. AmachreeTechnologist IIgeraldjohnson7ee@yahoo.com
Mr. Gideon OsuagwuTractor Operator/Mechanic Igideonosuagwu@gmail.com
Mrs. Theresa Dagogo MinainyoDeputy Chief Confidential Secretarytessyd93@yahoo.com
Mrs. Nmekini IroegbuAdministration Officer IIinmekini@gmail.com