National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI)

National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI) (formerly National Engineering Design Development Centre (NEDDEC)), Nnewi, Anambra State, is one of the research Institutes of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

HISTORY

National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI) (formerly National Engineering Design Development Centre (NEDDEC)), Nnewi, Anambra State, is one of the research Institutes of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST). Realizing the need to input engineering design principles into the operations of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) so as to accelerate the pace of manufacturing of quality goods and services in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to set up a centre to develop human capacity nationwide in engineering design. Nnewi was perhaps chosen as the location because of the huge number of industrial activities going on in the area. This is what earns Nnewi the ‘Japan of Africa’. The Centre was commissioned by the then Honorable Minister for Science and Technology, Maj-Gen. Sam Muomah (rtd) on 14th May 1999. Skeletal operations began at the Centre in 2001 with the deployment of few staff headed by a CentrevManager, then Engr. Abdulmalik from the NASENI headquarters. The Centre was then housed in a town hall. A Director/CEO, Engr. (Dr.) S.O. Momoh, assumed office in the Centre in June 2004.

The Centre

The Centre was upgraded to an Institute status in the year 2006, thus instead of National Engineering Design Development Centre (NEDDEC), it is now National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI). The advent of the CEO catalyzed operations at the Institute as he began to reposition NEDDI to meet the challenges ahead. To this end, he was quick to recognize the following challenges and tackled them head on:

  • Lack of engineering/technical manpower in the institute as only three (3) technical staff were on ground ( An Engineer, a Technologist and a craftsman);
  • Lack of a befitting accommodation to carryout full scale operation, having been operating from a town hall;
  • Lack of basic tools, computer systems and other machines to support engineering design and development as embodied in NEDDI’s mandate;
  • Absence of synergies and/or collaborations with allied institutions, SMEs and Tertiary Institutions among others. Following the redeployment of Dr. Momoh to NASENI headquarters in 2012, Engr. David Dania was sent from the headquarters to man the affairs of NEDDI as the Acting Director. He assumed office in June 2012.

OUR MANDATE

To develop engineering design capacity in the country and dissemination of same to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), with a view to ensuring that made in Nigeria products are competitive and globally acceptable.

OUR MISSION

To enhance the quality standards of made in Nigerian products through sound engineering design

OUR VISION

To be the best engineering design Institute in Africa with highly productive and motivated staff whose products rank among the best in the world.

SYNERGIES/COLLABORATIONS/MoUs

The Institute collaborates with allied Institutes as well as tertiary Institutions, associations or societies locally and abroad with a view to actualize her mandate. Presently, we maintain collaboration with the following organizations:

  1. National Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) – NEDDI provides the platform on which the rank and file of the association members are trained in modern engineering software like AutoCAD and 3D Home Architect.
  2. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede – Our Institute is currently partnering in an R&D work into a tricycle for the physically challenged with the school.
  3. Anambra State University Uli (ANSU) – Apart from benefitting from the Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) programme of NASENI headquarters, NEDDI is collaborating with ANSU in the design and fabrication of a 10ton hydraulic press for close die forging.
  4. University of Benin – The Institute is collaborated with the University of Benin in the design and production if component parts of the made in Nigeria motorcycle using the CY 80 model. To this end, an MoU has been signed.
  5. Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) Nnewi – NEDDI partners with TIC Nnewi in the training of individuals and entrepreneurs in basic engineering design and computer aided design in the Nnewi light engineering cluster.
  6. Standard Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) – Our Institute is a party to a subsisting MoU that was signed by NASENI headquarters for cooperation in the area of training and capacity development in CAD/CAM.
NEDDI is also collaborating with the:
  1. University of Ilorin on Aerodynamic separator;
  2. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) Benin in the area of bio-fuel production.
  3. National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Zaria.
  4. Industrial Training Fund on the training of technical personnel. These partnerships however, are in the incubation stages.
  5. CUTIX Cables Plc.

NEDDI OFFICE COMPLEX

NEDDI OFFICE COMPLEX , at its commissioning in May 2009 was at Nnofor town hall, a community hall in Nnewi. With the appointment of a substantial Director, Engr. (Dr.) S.O. Momoh in 2004, he set out to build a permanent office for the Institute. Foundation of the first building, which is the Research and Development Department, was laid on the 6th of June 2006 on a piece of land donated to the Institute by Nnewi community at No. 1-3 Emma Biu Street, Okpuno-Egbu, Umudi Nnewi through the negotiations of Maj-Gen. Sam Moumah, the then Minister of Science and Technology. The land has an average area of 5,000m2. The entire office complex was completed in 2008 and staff moved in in 2009. The office complex has a paved driveway around it, covered and uncovered car parks and beautiful lawns.

  1. Administrative Block. It houses some of the Directorate Units, Board Room, Administrative Department, Accounts Department, Technology Business Development Department, Internet V-SAT and other staff offices.
  2. Administrative Annex Block. This building houses the Conference Hall Planning Unit, ICT Unit and other staff offices.
  3. Research and Development Block. Some of the Institutes high-tech machines for advanced manufacturing and research are housed in this building. These include a Virtual Manufacturing Laboratory (VML), A High Power Computing Centre (HPC), A library, Manual Drafting Room and Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Centre which includes Machines like Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lathes, a CNC Vertical Milling Machine, Electrical Discharge Machine (EDM) and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), etc. the VML and HPC houses 24 and 12 high capacity workstations respectively for design and Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) work. The building block also houses R&D departmental staff offices.
  4. Manufacturing Services Block This block houses some manual basic fabrication machines; Vertical Milling, Surface Grinding, Conventional Lathe (C8C capacity), Standing Drilling, Hydraulic Press and Band Saw machines. Others are Table Drilling Machine, Shaping Machine, several Wielding Machines and other tools for the Institutes Reverse Engineering and Innovation programme. Seven office rooms are available for Manufacturing and Production (M&P) department engineers, technologists, technicians and craftsmen.
  5. Engineering Services Block Similar in configuration to Manufacturing and Technology block, offices rooms are available are available for engineers, craftsmen and technicians. This block also houses a workshop where some of the Institutes research work is put into practice. Some of the Institutes research work over the years is also on display in the workshop.
  6. Foundry Workshop the Institute currently boosts of a 100kg rotary furnace she acquired in 2005. Installation is at an advanced stage recently with two Induction furnaces of 250kg each, recently acquired by the Institute.
  7. A block houses the office canteen that caters for all cadre of staff, managed by and independent caterer
  8. The entire NEDDI complex is powered by a 350KVA sound-proof alternative power source (plant) donated to her by NASENI headquarter. A 300KVA, 33KV, 0.415KV transformer complements the power source. Water is supplied to the Institute’s complex by a dedicated borehole. .

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Since we moved into our modern office complex in 2009, the Institute has been acquiring state-of-the-art machines and equipment in the areas of engineering design, CAD/CAM and foundry. The equipment includes the followings, few of which were provided by NASENI as part of their nodal expansion:

  1. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lathe Machines
  2. CNC Vertical Milling Centre (VMC)
  3. An Electric Discharge Machine (EDM)
  4. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
  5. Two 250kg induction furnace
  6. A 100kg rotary furnace
  7. Varying welding machines
  8. Surface grinding machine
  9. Manual lathe, borers and shapers
  10. A dedicated 350KVA power generating plant a 33KVA transformer
  11. A Virtual Manufacturing Laboratory (VML) with 20 computers fully loaded with the most recent engineering and other software.
  12. A High-Powered Computer (HPC) Centre with 10 high power computers and servers.
  13. Manual drafting Centre
  14. Library
  15. Conference Centre that holds a capacity of 80 to 100 people. .