Enugu State Youths Take The Lead; Creates A Milestone In The Just Concluded i-Fair Tech Innovations Program, A Justification Of Elvis Obi-Nwankwo’s ‘We Can Do It’ Mantra

‘We can do it’ has always been a mantra usually attributed to Hon. Engr. Elvis Obi-Nwankwo, one of Enugu State’s finest Tech experts who doubles as the Special Assistant on Innovations, Science And Technology To The Enugu State Governor. He has stuck to these phrase of possibility at the beginning of his Enugu State Science and Technology Revolution journey which started with a roundtable/synergy between the Tech Industry owners in Enugu State, Lagos and Abuja, an event that breezed in a new tech atmosphere in the state, before the i-Fair program story started.

The i-Fair program is an initiative aimed at raising a generation of innovators, inventors, and researchers in Nigeria by offering them a platform to transform their ideas into innovative solutions and launch their entrepreneurial dreams in the fields of Agriculture & Food Security, Renewable Energy/Environmental Management, Food Technology, Medical Devices/Simulation, and Social Responsibility.

The just concluded 4 months program had youths from Enugu State coming up with the best Proof of Concept among other participants from other States in Nigeria.

Recall that the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) program was organised by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Skill-G Nigeria Ltd, Gregory University Uturu, Abia State and DeNovo-Israel, Ltd.

The i-FAIR participants will receive online training focusing on developing their prototypes and creating business plans, while learning about intellectual property protection and marketing options. They will also receive training in communication and pitching to potential investors, while enjoying full access to the Innovation Center and its labs and workshops. This training will be utilized in the grand finale ceremony in March during which the Innovators will get to pitch their products and business plans to some of the biggest investors.

​Below is a report from one of the excited participants from Enugu State:

It is not a mere coincidence that all these blessings are coming to Enugu State with regards to the intelligence quotient of our youths, but it’s a reflection of reward of favour from the most high God whose hands are on the helm of affairs in the State…Courtesy of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who at inception into office committed Enugu State into the hands of God, and since then the hands of God has been doing wonders in our dear state. The grace following our dear Governor is thus been metamorphosed into these good luck and great records following NDI ENUGU YOUTHS who consistently emerges top in all the National competitions been organised @Abuja. I’ve been following up the programs of i-FAIR Israel Nigeria, a partnership program between the FGN and Israeli Embassy on a talent hunt competition Pan Nigeria for young aspiring inventors and researchers in Nigeria. Happily enough, It’s good to see four people from Enugu State emerged top after the long battle on test of knowledge in the competitive series. These innovations are so unique in such a way that they are first of its kind in Nigeria. If these projects are put into use, I’m optimistic that Enugu State will have her name recorded in the golden book of history in the world map. The innovations from our Enugu youths were;

(1). Engr. Okolie Samson Chijioke, Manager SKILL-G Innovation Centre, Abuja, B.Tech (Electromechanical), M.eng (Production Engineering) whom by God’s grace is from Awgu North Constituency. He invented Eco-Smart Aquaponics system for rearing of fishes and also growing of food crops like vegetables at the comfort of one’s home without having to pass through the stress of clearing bushes or make ridges like our fathers and mothers do at home on farms. I find this innovation very interesting because with this innovation, our people do not need to be going to farms again to encounter Fulani herdsmen killings any longer. Just at your compound/backyard in the city, you can mount the cupboard-like stand and venture into agriculture like growing of food crops, rearing of fishes, rearing of fowls and just like that one will be making his cool cash. This is equally the method the whites use abroad.

(2). Engr. Afamefuna Nnamani, invented “Smart solar dryer” for drying of perishable goods like tomatoes, peppers, etc at home using solar energy. These produce when dried via this method do not loose it’s nutrient contents as it can be preserved for season-in and season-out.

(3). Eneh Daniel Chijioke, also invented “IRescue plus” device that serves as a car sensor that sends messages to family members, Police or Road Safety offices, even with a Google map for direction to the scene of the accident, whenever one’s family is involved in an accident. With this device installed in a car, it is very easy to locate anyone involved in an auto crash/accident and such person will be rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatments in time.

(4). Engr. Ekenedilichukwu Raphael invented a “Pluck off device” that helps to boil hot water and also pluck-off chicken feathers in a covered container within 30secs without the person having to go through the stress of plucking the chicken feathers by hand one by one. This is a more hygienic and fast method of preparing a chicken worth hundreds of number ready within secs during an occasion.

The full details of these four of our finest Inventors from Enugu State include:

(1). Engr. Okolie Samson Chijioke (Eco-Smart Aquaponics system innovator)

08038676611

From Amabor, Owelli in Awgu North, Awgu L.G.A

(2). Engr Afamefuna Nnamani (Smart solar dryer innovator)

08037793962

From Amugo in Akpugo local government. Nkanu West. Enugu State

(3) Eneh Daniel Chijioke (IRescue Plus inventor)

07068271428

From Eke in Udi L.G.A

(4) Engr.Kenechukwu Rapheal Igwe (Pluck off innovator)

08163619820

Amokwa, Affa in Udi L.G.A