AfroGist24

A final year student of agriculture and bio-resource engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mr Chibuike Ekwueme, has produced a device for food pounding.

Ekwueme, who hails from Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Wednesday that he needed support for mass production of the device.

He said he needed no less than N1 million to enable him to start mass production of the pounding machines.

He said that the multi-purpose machine had been used to pound yam, cassava, potatoes and plantain in a few minutes.

Ekwueme said that he needed sponsors either from the government, individuals or corporate bodies to give him at least N1 million to enable him to continue with the mass production of the machine.

“This machine uses electricity to pound yam, cassava, potatoes or plantain within a few minutes and can also be used to blend tomatoes and crayfish.

“It costs me about N40,000 to buy the materials to produce the prototype of this tuber pounding machine but in mass production the price will reduce.

“I need one million naira from the government, individuals or corporate bodies as sponsors to enable me to start mass production of the machine.

“ If I cannot get sponsors, I will sell the design to one of the companies that have been approaching me to sell the design to them,” he said.

The final year student said he started the idea three years ago and had been re-modifying it until he was able to come up with the present machine.

“My driving force in producing this machine was that most time when I see house wives sweating using mortar and pestle to pound food, I told myself that there is need to invent a machine that will make it easier for them to pound.He said he was happy that he got exactly what he wanted in his design.

“What I did first was to go online to study the foreign yam pounder and how I can use local materials to produce it.

“Everything I used in producing this machine is sourced locally; none was imported. What I have here is family size for home use.

“I can also produce bigger size for hotels and restaurants that may need it for their business,’’ he said.

Ekwueme said that he made the machine since last year for the public and had been invited to exhibitions and workshops where the machine had been tested and proven to be effective.

He said the product had been showcased in UNN engineering exhibition, Abuja young inventors’ exhibition as well as local made product exhibition organised by tertiary schools in the South East.

“I was among those who represented UNN in all these places. I received prizes and uncountable commendations by organisers and participants.

“I give God all the glory for giving me the wisdom and creativity to produce this machine that will help families in preparing their food,’’ he said.

people empowerment

US pledges $37m for Boko Haram victims

Unknown 5:37 PM

The United States government has announced that it will provide at least $37m in additional humanitarian assistance to people affected by Boko Haram insurgency and food insecurity in the North-East and other areas of the Lake Chad Basin.According to a statement issued and made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, the US government is providing the aid through its Agency for International Development.The statement read in part, “The savagery of Boko Haram has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and surrounding countries in the Lake Chad Basin region. Families have been driven from their homes, millions are left without enough to eat, and human rights abuses are widespread. Despite gradually improving security conditions, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Throughout the region, approximately five million people need emergency food assistance, and 2.5 million people are displaced.”The US said the aid fund given to the United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisation partners, would help tens of thousands of people to receive “critically needed humanitarian assistance,” including food, water, shelter and services to address acute hygiene, protection and nutritional needs.
Three senior USAID officials, Nigeria Mission Director, Michael Harvey, US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Director, Jeremy Konyndyk, and Office of Food for Peace Deputy Director Matt Nims, made the announcement following a trip to the North-East, where the humanitarian needs are most acute.
“With this announcement, the United States is providing more than $318m in humanitarian assistance since 2015 to the Lake Chad Basin region and continues to be the single largest humanitarian donor to the region.
“In addition to humanitarian funding, USAID provides targeted assistance that seeks to reduce extreme poverty and improve the quality of life for Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities through improved governance and civic participation at the federal, state and local levels; reduced corruption; a strengthened private sector as a source of job creation; and improved quality of social service delivery,” the statement said.