Engineers invent ventilators, others for COVID-19 fight

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has showcased ventilators, hand washing machines and other equipment critical for the fight against COVID-19. The products were invented by their members.
 
They used the opportunity to call for recognition in critical sectors of the nation’s development. A former chairman of Apapa branch of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibrahim Aledu invented the mechanical ventilator to reduce the nation’ s reliance on foreign products and professionals.
   
Leading the call, a former Vice President of NSE, Tunde Zedomi, said the invention is a demonstration that Nigeria has inventors that do a lot and save the country from dependent on foreign products if encouraged.

He stressed the need to gather all the fabricators, engineers in the institutions of higher learning together to meet with the secretary of the Federation and coordinator of the presidential committee on COVID -19, Boss Mustapha, to see how they can be supported to mass produce the equipment for use in the treatment of coronavirus patients.

Describing the inventions as phenomenal, Zedomi, who is also the inaugural Chairman of Apapa Branch, said he has spoken to the president of NSE on the need to put an encompassing committee to harness the potential of the investors across the branches and integrate them to the presidential committee with a view to encouraging them.

Also, elated chairman of the branch, Sunny Ejeje said the inventions demonstrate the ability of Nigerian engineers and the need for government to look inwards for the solution of her developmental challenges.

According to him, government should bring all the engineers to work together as one body so as to come out with something that will be functional and serve the nation and get the work done.

“We should tell the government that we are capable and not a matter of depending on foreigners like the Chinese. We only need motivation, a kind of start off grant because the inventors have done their researches and it is just for government to support them.

“It is a good one for Nigerian engineers and kudos to them. I just pray that Government will see this and take over from them. I am happy that something good is coming from Apapa Branch”, he added.

On his part, Aledu, said the mechanical ventilator was his modest contribution to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic especially when the country can boost for only 450 ventilators despite its large population.

The mechanical engineer who demonstrated working of the device said the move was to save the nation from reliance on foreign products and professionals.
 
According to him, with the slump in oil price and lull in revenue, now is the time for government at all levels to look inwards and found local solutions to her challenges.

Explaining how he ventured into the journey, Aledu said he took it upon himself with the lockdown to produce a mechanical device that could save lives of victims of the corona virus especially when the cost of imported ventilator is put between $30 to $50,000.

He stressed that the device was constructed with over 80 per cent local materials, cost less than N100, 000 and made up of wood, motorcycle dry cell battery and wiper motor disc.