Solution to electricity problem in Nigeria may be in sight as delegates from UNESCO train students of engineering, physical sciences, and secondary school students, on how to use locally- sourced materials to design turbines that will generate electricity using micro hydro sources

The training tagged; “Engineering without Borders Outreach Programme”, is part of the one week science fair organized by the University of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNESCO.

Speaking on the essence of the programme, a UNESCO resource Person, Rovani Sigamoney, said that the Engineering Without Borders Outreach Programme, was designed to train students on how to use locally sourced materials to solve common problems such as providing solid shelters, developing transportation infrastructure, and using micro hydro to generate electricity in their environment.

She said the idea was to replicate, in Nigeria, the practice of using coke to build turbines that can function with micro hydro to generate electricity. An experiment she said had worked in the United Kingdom. So far, Sigamoney said that the programme had recorded tremendous success at the University of Nigeria, and added that the trainees had even evolved their own innovation by using slippers to design the turbines instead of using coke.

“We taught them how to use coke to develop turbines yesterday, they went home and thought about it, when they came this morning , they introduced their own innovation of using slippers in the place of coke, and the thing is working perfectly well. That shows how great Africans are if they are exposed to opportunities. I am excited about that”, she said.

Further, she explained that UNN was selected to host the workshop because of its relationship with UNESCO, which led to the establishment of UNESCO category II Biotechnology Centre at the Institution. She expressed the belief that those trained in the UNN would help train other people in other parts of Nigeria.

Some secondary school students who also benefited from the Engineering without Borders Training, shared their benefits;“ my name is Chidera Irouwakwu, an SS II student of the University of Nigeria Secondary School. I have learnt how to make my own contribution to the solution of power problem in Nigeria using simple raw materials I can find around my environment. I will like to apply the knowledge I have acquired to boost electricity supply in our home.”

Another SS II student, Ugochukwu Okeke, said, “I have learnt how to use household appliances like slippers, wire and magnate to generate hydro electricity. I hope to start applying the skill after the workshop”.

The Engineering without borders training is part of the multiple programmes of the week long Science Fair holding at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. More than 85 secondary school teachers and over 1600 benefited from the training

Inya, Agha E.