Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) Middle East and Africa Region Final 2023

The Middle East and Africa region's regional final of Speak Out of Engineering (SOfE) took place on the 2 March, 2024.

National winners (Young Members of the Institution) from seven different countries exhibited their amazing talent by showcasing their brilliant mechanical engineering ideas and presentation skills. UAE, Oman, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Azerbaijan, and Mauritius were among the participating nations. The judges on the panel were drawn from Toastmasters, academic institutions, and industry experts which included: Chief Judge - Daniel Fantoni, DTM Samer F. Kamal, Prof. Nizami Akturk, Dr. Chua Yaw Long, Mayura Boteju, and Prof. Robinson Ejilah (Presentation Timekeeper.

This Regional Speak Out for Engineering Final 2023 was organised by the Young Members Committee (YMC) for the Middle East and Africa Region.

Chinonso Ofojebe moderated the event which started with the opening remarks by Dr. Ifeanyichukwu U. Onyenanu (YM Chair – ME&A Region). He started by saluting the efforts of the committee who worked hard to make the event a fruition. He continued by welcoming the panel of judges and the participants. Moreover, he praised the efforts of Mr. Hassan N. Ansari (Former Chair of the ME&A Region) for building a solid foundation for the IMechE, Middle East, and Africa region.

The opening ceremony was further enriched by a welcome address from Dr. Mohammad Uneeb (Chair – ME&A Region), who highlighted the pivotal role of engineering in driving societal progress and betterment. He wished the best of luck to all the participants and thanked all the judges individually for taking their time out for the contest. Afterward, Daniel Fantoni (Chief judge of the event), reiterated the Rules and Guidelines for the Speak Out for Engineering competition before all the competitors went through their presentations in the following order.

1. Engr. Benazir Memon, representing Pakistan, introduced "Sevona Enterprises – A Startup that Produces Vertical Wind Turbines through an Innovative Method".
2. Ramen Parichay, hailing from Mauritius, discussed "Let us Fly – an Exploration of Innovations in Drone Technology".
3. Minatalla Abdella, based in the UAE, presented on "Net Zero Green Hydrogen Production in the GCC Region".
4. Nizamaddin Israfilli, representing Azerbaijan, shared insights on "Mechanical Vibrations and Their Role in Mitigating Structural Damage during Earthquakes".
5. Ikwuegbu Ihuoma Emmanuella, from Nigeria, highlighted "SCI-VERSE: Pioneering the Future of Learning".
6. Yousuf Al-Busaidi, representing Oman, discussed "Green Hydrogen: Empowering the Future".
7. Amesi Suleiman Khadija, from Ghana, presented "Easy-Fix Technology: Simplifying Solutions".

Following the main presentation, while the judges deliberated on the results, Sreejith Kesavan, the IMechE Country Representative for Oman, delivered a presentation on “An overview of IMechE Membership Benefits”, followed by an extensive question and answer session. This segment of the event particularly resonated with numerous young graduates. Subsequently, Ghunisht Bundhoo provided a comprehensive presentation on Formula Student (FS), Europe's premier educational engineering competition.

Daniel Fantoni then proceeded to announce the winners. Minatalla Abdella from the UAE emerged as the winner with their presentation titled "Net Zero Green Hydrogen Production in the GCC Region." At the same time, the Runner-up position was secured by Yousuf Al-Busaidi from Oman, presenting "Green Hydrogen Powering the Future."

The event was successfully concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Mohammad Uneeb (Chair of the ME&A Region). He utilised the opportunity to also offer personal insights on each presenter's delivery, marking the event's culmination on a reflective note.