Photo Caption: this kids built a smart intruder detector robot
Nigeria may not have the Vibranium replete in Wakanda to change the technological space as depicted in the Black Panther movie but what is sure is the superfluity of brains in the largest black nation on earth who will thrive under even a similitude of the right circumstances.
It has become common place to hear of hypotheses, inventions and discoveries by Nigerians at home and abroad go uncelebrated and under the radar. Whether the aforementioned is due to negligence or not by the concerned bodies is up for a debate as the country remains far from being named as the technological hub of Africa.
However, in the midst of the discouragement and dimming lights, OKOROAFOR, George Bethel a 25-year old National Youth Service Corps member with code number AN/17A/3442 posted to Anambra state has decided to fan a flickering light to flames in his Place of Primary Assignment - Community Secondary School, Umuchu, Anambra State.
The graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta is making a case for specialised institutions to continue running conventional programmes as his adventure to Robotics and Forensics continues to garner rave reviews.
On 23rd,April, 2018, the diminutive Engineering graduate led a team of 5 students from the Community Secondary School, Umuchu, Anambra State to build a smart intruder detector robot.
The Smart Intruder Detector robot is designed to assume the role of a security officer that keeps a watch for intruders coming dangerously close to a property.
The robot is embedded with a sensor mounted on a motor shaft to sniff 180degrees continuously looking for the closest object. If and when it finds one, a lamp located just inches above moves to that direction and signals on while the sensor continues to sweep through in search of the next closest intruder.
This beautiful application of robotics represents a game changer in the field of security and property tracking and it makes for pleasant hearing considering that secondary school students are being exposed to this knowledge by a diligent nation builder.
Bethel, a tech enthusiast is known for his unquenching love for robotics right from his University days. He is credited to have built a Firefighting robot as his final year project in fulfillment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. He has also been trained on building ground base robotic vehicles and unmanned Aerial vehicles (drones).
His drive to replicate self across the cardinals of Nigeria especially among secondary school students led to the establishment of primeEdge consult in january 2018.
At primeEdge consult, educational services on robotics, electronics,web design, graphics design and animation are delivered in a simple and fun way using an easy-to-understand teaching method.
Speaking to our correspondent, he says "the mission of our brand is to build innovative and creative minds, capable of taking on challenging engineering and technological tasks, to increase the efficiency of the educational system in the country; thereby enabling Nigerian students to compete favourably on international standards.
Considering the epileptic nature of power supply in Nigeria, there are probably not many ways to get students excited about science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) or to engage them in strategic problem solving; yet Robotics represents a veritable tool in achieving both.
It introduces students to concepts and skills that are needed for understanding the intelligent, highly interactive information-based technology of the future. At elementary school level, teaching robotics starts with simpler concepts like the scientific principle of distance speed, sound, pulley.
When a robot is built, like man, it must be able to move unbound throughout its environment, while achieving its programmed objective.
To do this,the robot needs to know how to deal with obstacles it finds on its way. Navigating hindrances and more has to be envisioned and solutions have to be proffered. This, is where the problem solving and analytical skills of the student is developed.
Robotics, of course, remains a multi-faceted discipline where extensive knowledge on idea generation, project execution and delivery are sine qua non. Yet, children are able to go beyond the limits of educational construction of simple toys and the like to designing robots that represent their ideas.
The requisite skill set and tool set to achieve this are usually taught to professional designers and architects, but we introduce some of them into robotics courses for children. When we do these, we would be building a generation of problem solvers"
With more committed, industrious and technology savvy youths like OKOROAFOR, George Bethel in Nigeria, trying to create international solutions for everyday Nigerian problems, we can sleep with two-eyes closed knowing fully well that the employed Security guard is not sleeping as well or complaining of fatigue from the previous day's work.
Perhaps, with the support of the entire Wakandan Army for our very own full-bred, Nigeria has a budding T'Challa in the making who is going to make our Wakanda the technology hub of the world. We never know until we try.
