Welcome to the Equipment Maintenance Centre (EMC), University of Ibadan!
The Equipment Maintenance Centre (EMC), established under an initiative of the National Universities Commission (NUC), was inaugurated on 1 November 1991. However, the concept of equipment maintenance and local fabrication of scientific apparatus at the University of Ibadan predates this national initiative by several decades.
As early as the 1950s, the Department of Physics had established Mechanical, Electronics, and Wood Workshops to support teaching and research (Giwa, 1986). These units designed, fabricated, maintained, and repaired teaching, laboratory and research equipment for use within the University and beyond. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Department’s Low-Cost Equipment Fabrication Project — supported first by the National Science and Technology Development Agency and later by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology — had gained national recognition for producing durable and affordable teaching, research, and laboratory apparatus for schools, polytechnics, and universities across Nigeria (Oni, 1998).
Their products were distributed nationwide and exhibited at national and international trade fairs, earning commendation from the Ministry. In departmental reports of that era, it was even recommended that these fabrication activities be placed under a separate unit with dedicated staff (Giwa, 1986) — a clear conceptual precursor to what would later become the Equipment Maintenance Centre.
The Mechanical, Electronics, and Wood Workshops established in that era continue to exist and function within the Department of Physics today. Though the low-cost equipment fabrication project has not continued for lack of funds, the workshops remain active as part of the University’s teaching and training infrastructure. They have been formally incorporated into the M.Sc. Physics curriculum through the compulsory course PHY774 – Applied Electronics and Workshop Practice, where students undertake practical projects that reinforce hands-on problem-solving in experimental physics and instrumentation.
The practical experience and institutional model developed at Ibadan thus anticipated the subsequent establishment of Equipment Maintenance Centres in universities across Nigeria under the NUC’s directive. The University of Ibadan’s EMC therefore represents both a continuation and an expansion of that visionary work begun in the Department of Physics.
Originally located in the Department of Physics, the Centre moved in 2011 to its present site on Appleton Road, opposite the Department of Archaeology and the Faculty of Technology junction, and behind the Zoological Garden.
Our mandate is to:
• Oversee the safe procurement, delivery, and installation of equipment.
• Safeguard and manage research and laboratory facilities.
• Maintain records of equipment location and condition.
• Develop and update equipment maintenance policies.
• Generate revenue through technical repairs, installations, and services.
Over the years, the EMC has supported the University of Ibadan through the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems, the repair of specialised laboratory equipment at greatly reduced cost, and the development of policies for effective equipment management. Beyond the University, the Centre has also extended its expertise to other universities, research institutes, and private organisations through consultancy, contract services, and collaborative technical projects.
In recent years, the Centre’s role in solar photovoltaic deployment has expanded significantly as part of the University’s broader effort to address energy challenges through sustainable solutions. These installations are designed with careful attention to durability, safety, and long-term operational reliability. To ensure consistent performance and dependable after-sales support, the Centre prioritises the use of well-established equipment manufacturers with recognised service networks in Nigeria. This approach enables the University to obtain energy solutions that are both cost-effective and sustainable over the long term. The Centre’s growing contributions in this area align with the University’s continuing commitment to strengthening sustainable energy infrastructure across its units.
Looking ahead, the Centre is committed to expanding access to modern research and laboratory equipment by fostering partnerships, attracting external funding, and ensuring that procurement and services are coordinated to maximise efficiency and impact within UI and across Nigeria’s higher education and research landscape. With adequate funding, the low-cost equipment fabrication initiative can be revived and modernised to strengthen our physical instrumentation capacity — actively engaging the Mechanical and Electronics Workshops and relevant lecturers of electronics courses in the university. This synergy would enable local fabrication of much cheaper solar PV system components such as inverters and charge controllers, using high-quality electronic parts, while delivering installations that are more efficient and tailored to client needs (see Solar PV Equipment Fabrication for details).
Our achievements are the result of the collective efforts of past and present leadership of the Centre. We gratefully acknowledge the vision and contributions of former Directors whose work laid the foundation for many of the projects and services highlighted here.
Our commitment is to remain a reliable partner in teaching, research, community service, and technical solutions both within and beyond the University of Ibadan.
Professor O. E. Oyewande
Director, Equipment Maintenance Centre
University of Ibadan
References
Giwa, F. B. A. (1986). Fabrication of Low-Cost Physics Apparatus (Vol. 2). Ibadan: Department of Physics, University of Ibadan.
Oni, Ebun A. (1998). Department of Physics at Fifty. (E. A. Oni, & L. Hussain, Eds.) Ibadan: Department of Physics, University of Ibadan.
