By Omowunmi Samuel
The Nigerian government says its Polytecnic and Innovation Enterprise Institutions Program, POINTER Initiative, is set up to promote policies, programs and prospects that will enable undergraduate students openly display their talents and skills in science related areas and boost national development.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo, stated this at the grand finale of POINTER competition held in Abuja.
Mr Andrew Adejo, disclosed that the competition, which began on 2nd of November, was first of its kind, and is considered timely following the platform it created for undergraduate students to showcase their innate creativities in the field of Science and Technology.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the National exhibition on creativity and innovation for employment generation, brings to lime light participants, who are mainly undergraduate students in the field of science and technology.
Adejo also emphasized on science and technology as a tool for rapid growth and development of any economy.
He stressed that the initiative is not a mere function of the mind but a behavioural function which places the youth at an advantage position for discovery.
Meanwhile, the lead consultant from Ubelle Nigeria Limited, Dr. Johnson Onoja, gave a detailed briefing on the past projects and presentation of the participants, noting that the competition is open to students across all fields of sciences.
One of the participants, Paul Aboh from Federal Polytecnic Nasarawa, who designed a drone system noted that the state of insecurity of the nation prompted the initiative.
According to him, the insurgency has adversely affected so many areas including the economy, which has deterred investors from trooping into the country to trade, but with the drone intervention, it would be easy to track and keep surveillance on them.
According to him, the materials used for the drone design were locally sourced.
He disclosed that capital and machinery imbalance was the major constraints he encountered during the process of invention.
Yusuf Abdulkareem from Federal Polytechnic Offa took the first place, while Aliu Abdulahi from Federal Polytechnic Idah, Paul Aboh, and Jeremiah Emmanuel all emerged as the second place. Onyedika Divine from Federal Polytechnic, Benue, took the third place respectively.
