NO nation, groups or individuals grow or develop overnight. Naturally it starts from somewhere and grows up and so it is with developing and developed nations. And this is so also with innovations, inventions and technological growth even with advanced countries, no one starts in a day and attain perfection.
Initially, they may start as quacks and then grow and matures before attaining perfection. To be fair to Nigerians, they have been trying to grow in many aspects, especially in technology and they are being called all sorts of names. So it is with many developing countries. Yes, they have tried to manufacture or invent or copy other countries in one way or the other in areas like manufacturing of automobiles, generators, motorcycles, fans and even aircraft among others.
Recently, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe -Oghara announced a ground breaking innovation with the development of Fueless electricity generating plant by its team of engineers.
According to the report, during the presentation, the Rector of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu -Biri emphasised the institution’s commitment to advancing technology, solving societal problems and promoting entrepreneurship.
The new 25KVA generator which the Rector said to be self – sustaining and does not require solar, forsil fuel or bio-fuel is said to meet significant portion of the polytechnic energy needs. Professor Ufuophu -Biri dedicated the innovation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for fostering a conducive environment for education and functional innovation.
This is coming shortly after a sister polytechnic at Ogwashi-Uku announced the ground breaking manufacture of some generators by lecturers and students of the institution which attracted kudos to the school, the government and the innovators.
Sadly enough, the flame raised by the worthy innovations never went beyond the ground breaking and inauguration. This is rather unfortunate.
The development of the FUEL -LESS GENERATOR is significant in many ways as fuel has become gold in the country and so anything developed to help save a situation should be encouraged and commended. And it could be frustrating and discouraging if it is not followed up by the school or the society.
Yes, the essence of research in humanity, science and technology is to find solutions to existing purposes, this is what the polytechnics are out to achieve in the society and its environs.
In the past, the blame was going to the polytechnics that they were not living up to expectations. But now, it would appear that they have woken up, especially in the area of energy shortage and other areas in a bid to meet up with the ten top innovations in printing press, light bulbs, air-plane, personal computers, vaccines among others.
No doubt, the innovator and well meaning Nigerians have been very worried that there had been no follow up after their researches and the euphoria just died down. Last year, the executive secretary of TETFUND, Mr. Sony Enchono said during a training programme on Research for Impact Initiative organised for polytechnic lecturers from across the nation in Abuja aimed at promoting innovation and viable research in higher institutions, Enchono said, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in technological development as it holds the massive key to overcoming challenges bedeviling the country.
He said “The world has witnessed tremendous transformation with technology at the centre stage transforming lives, creating jobs and impacting nations, adding, that most great nations that have developed were able to attain such heights through technological evolution as well as revolution that was all steeped on insatiable quest for knowledge.
He continued, “This thirst for better ways of doing things has resulted in innovations that brought the development of new things and new ways of doing things “ saying that consequently nations and citizens are compelled to either develop or remain as second class nations that would continuously depend on or save other nations that have advanced through leaving and impactful research.
The executive secretary has said it all. No nation worth its name would want to remain slaves to other advanced nations. It is, in fact, a curse to remain so.
Good enough, the polytechnics in Delta State have started on a good note to chart a technological goal for development of the State and the nation at large.
Engineer Moses Egwu, a retired engineer in one of the federal ministries said that the time has come for the government to recognise the role of engineers in the development of this nation, saying that depending on foreign engineers for its development cannot solve the nation’s needs in technology.
He said that Nigerian engineers are as good or even better than others from different places and wondered why they are being treated like second class engineers, cautioning that things must start to change if the intended change must come to this country.
Engineer Egwu stressed the need for companies and establishments to Mass produce the proto-types of innovations of Nigerians in Science and technology as according to him, there lies the rapid breakthrough of the hidden talents of the nation’s scientists.
All said, the ball is in the court of the various tiers of government to act positively for the overall development of humanity.
This is really the time for the government to come to the aid of the polytechnics. It could be the beginning of a new dawn for Nigeria. Things are moving very fast and Nigeria cannot just be waiting and moping.
