By: Joseph Orina
The Africa Tech Challenge is an international competition sponsored by AVIC international to foster skills development. This year’s competition was on construction engineering technology. The participants were trained online for one month from July 25th to August 22nd, through the AVIC INTL Vocational Education Online Platform.
The preliminary competition on “Reading and Drafting of Construction Drawings” was successfully held on August 25th,” read a statement by AVIC International. The Meru National Polytechnic has participated all the time. The last competition was conducted in 2018 just before the covid 19 pandemic. Two students from mechanical engineering were awarded scholarships to study in Japan and attached to Toyota Japan.
Participants at the Africa Tech Challenge
The training focused on the knowledge of the basic operation of Computer Aided Design software, engineering drawing projection, international drafting standards and building floor plan drawing. Participants were drawn from Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Apart from the training and competition, a midterm examination and final examination were held during the training stage for the participants to evaluate the trainees. The Meru National Polytechnic emerged top among the best. Antony Mutuma of Kenya Scooped first place and this contributed to the excellent performance of the Kenyan Team.
The Regional Flagship TVET institute in Building and Construction Technology is committed to being the best and preferred choice for training in construction. The Management is proud of the Engineering departments for continuously putting the RFTI on top of all participants in Africa and beyond.
The Writer is the Communications Manager for the EASTRIP at Meru Polytechnic College