By Sodiq Kamiludeen
Another feather was yet added to the milestone of accomplishments and achievements already known with the University of Ibadan after she sealed an MoU with Zucchini Fashion Center for the establishment of a garment-making laboratory. The garment-making laboratory was named after Professor O.E Charles-Owaba, a professor of industrial Engineering.
The laboratory is Work Systems Application and Ergonomics laboratory known as the University of Ibadan Industrial Production Engineering Garment Lab. The beautiful edifice is situated at the department of Industrial and production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan. It was established to bridge the gap between academic studies and real-life applications which is non-existent and has constituted a greater problem to the students who are mainly theoretic but lacking in the practical aspect.
The MoU was sealed with Zucchini Fashion Center, a fashion production company with special preference for clothing production. Zucchini Fashion Center was positioned as an indigenous center for fashion, innovation, training, research, consultancy and production.
Mr. Olumide Ọlálékan, the Director of UI garment lab explained that the MoU the company signed with UI is to manage the garment lab. This includes the need for the university to produce the facilities and equipment that are necessary for the programme to take off.
“We are looking at the commercial aspect of the initiative in terms of engaging the students and equipping them for the larger society. For those students who are already skilled in fashion designing, some of them have been assessed already so they can earn while still studying. Plans are underway to absorb those who are not yet skilled to come and learn at the center.” He concluded.
Mr. Olumide shed more light on what the university stands to gain from the initiative. He stated that the relationship is a symbiotic one as both parties will benefit from it; while the university is looking at the programme from the angle of research in fashion and designing, the company is looking at the commercial aspect of the initiative.
It is a world of utmost digitization and the premier university is not left behind in this development. The laboratory houses many sewing machines both the hand sewing machine and the electronic one with a magnificent 3D full body measurement scanner which can measure the full body accurately than the conventional tape rule measurement. This will expose learners to 21stcentury development.
No doubt, initiatives such as these are what make students of the University of Ibadan to stand out amongst their peers. While other universities may not shift their gazes to things like this, UI has started preparing her students for the task ahead especially after graduation.
