Technology is the bedrock of economic and infrastructural development. Countries with massive technological innovations and innovators are well respected worldwide, this often tend to influence the political and economic policies of less technologically endowed nations.
Contrary to what many people believe, Nigeria is full of many brilliant minds, who, if given the same opportunities their foreign counterparts are given, will go on to change the world with their ideas. This has been obviously displayed in many inventions by Nigerians.
Currently, things are changing for the better in Nigeria technological advancement. The country is generally witnessing a rise in the number of technological innovations and inventors.
Nigerians are at the forefront when it comes to technology innovations in Africa.
Technological innovators are springing up daily, this development has made Nigeria ascend an enviable position on the continent.
Technological Inventions By Nigerians;
- Urine-powered generator
Back in 2012, Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, Faleke Oluwatoyin, and Bello Eniola, four teenage girls in secondary school developed a generator that’s powered with urine and showcased it at Maker Faire Africa. According to the girls, this is how the contraption works:
- Urine is put into an electrolytic cell, which cracks the urea into hydrogen, nitrogen, and water.
- The hydrogen is purified with a water filter and is pushed into the gas cylinder.
- The gas cylinder pushes the hydrogen into a cylinder borax, which removes moisture from the hydrogen gas.
- The purified hydrogen is then pushed into the generator.
2. Blue Wind fans.
In 2016, Michael Ukoma created a battery-operated fan that, when fully charged, can last up to nineteen hours. He calls them “The Blue Wind Fans” and they come in different sizes e.g. tabletop, free-standing, etc. The materials he uses – mostly aluminium, wires, and old cartons for packaging – makes his fans affordable for low-income households. He hopes to have his own company one day so he can start creating engines and aircraft.
3. Hydraulic toys.
Fascinated with toys, Gerald Odo decided to create his own line of toys with scrap materials. Using painted plywood, syringes, water, wire, small tubes along with a motorcycle battery to power the whole thing, he made a dump truck, excavator, and a helicopter.
4. Customized tractor.
UK-trained Nigerian engineer Timothy Addigi Terfa built what he termed the”100% Nigerian” tractor in 2016. He named it ‘Ijodo’, meaning ‘labour’ in his native Tiv language. According to Terfa, the tractor was built with materials sourced in Nigeria and was designed with the ability to cover a wide variety of farm jobs due to different attachments.
