NAN-H-19
Products
By Harrison Arubu
Abuja, March 27, 2017 (NAN) Dr Theresa Akande, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has urged polytechnics in the country to show to the world technological products they have developed.
Akande gave the advice in Abuja when she featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.
She stated that despite the daunting challenges, Nigerian polytechnics still churn out amazing technological products capable of commanding global attention.
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“You will be surprised by what is happening in the polytechnics now. I hope we would be able to bring up a platform to showcase to NAN what is happening in the various polytechnics.
“If you go to the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; Auchi; Yaba College of Technology, Oko (and so on) you will see what I am saying.
“Young men and women are really showcasing unbelievable abilities, manufacturing things even when they don’t have the right equipment.
“I think we need to blow our own trumpet at home before external people can come to our aide.’’
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Akande said a lot of technological innovations were being carried out by students of the polytechnic at its Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation.
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“In fact, when I saw what our Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation were producing of recent, I was amazed.
“They produce stabilisers of such high quality that you won’t believe this has been made in the country.
“Our glass ware production unit is into production of all forms of laboratory glass ware that you can think of. Even your steel saves, they are made in our Obasanjo Centre.
“Recently, a private company, AVNL, have decided to partner with us in the assembly of tractors as well as the after sale service, which I think is a big step for us in the institution.
“They had that much confidence to want to use our Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation to assemble and produce those tractors as well as carry out the after sale service for the unit.’’
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The rector said the polytechnic had entered into a research partnership with the University of Aberystwyth in Wales, for the development of varied pest-resistant cereals.
She said the partnership would see the development of a high-yielding short-stemmed dough sorghum during field trials. (NAN)
ARU/LAB/YEE
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim
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