I nnovation, science and technology take the lion share in the course of transforming a nation to advanced level. Cognizant to this, Ethiopia is exerting its maximum effort in paying attention for the sector and setting institutional guide line. In this case, Ministry of Innovation and Technology and Ethiopian Youth Science Academy have been working harmoniously for the realization of better innovation in Science and Technology.
The aim of development innovation is to find and adopt concrete solutions that address problems more effectively and efficiently than existing approaches or that address needs that have not yet been met. Innovation can be either transformational (e.g. a brand new solution or approach to a problem) or incremental (i.e. an adjustment to an existing solution to make it more effective and/or efficient). As per this, in the recent times, Ethiopian Youth and Science Academy has conducted various deeds that initiate the youth for innovation.
And it is endeavoring to create initiation through arranging competition. The Academy has carried out “APSA Challenge” science and technology innovation competition under the motto of “Let’s encourage African youth for innovation” in collaboration with Association for the Promotion of Science in Africa (APSA). The objective of the competition is enabling the young people to come up with innovative works that solve Africa’s environmental, social, agricultural, technological, health related or any societal problems by Africans targeting sustainable development goals. And also enable them share experience each other.
Among the partakers of the competition works of Erkyihun Eskemche and Yiwedis Dagnie have been listed in the final 11 projects out of 120 projects presented from 18 African countries. Their innovative work is a computerized weaving technology that replaces traditional weaving system. It enables manipulate three weaving machines via computer at once and give products without any human interference. The modern machinery upsurges quantity and quality of production while reducing human resource, unnecessary cost and fatigue.
In turn it escalates our cultural clothing’s quality that provides the needed amount for local and foreign market. Especially, in generating foreign currency, it contributes for the economic growth of the nation. The machinery all in all is made up of wood and easily accessible materials from the surrounding and its price is 5,000 Birr with full guarantee, explained the innovators. The other competitor kept up unto the last round is Yohannes Girma with his partner and his innovation is producing natural fertilizer from human urine by extracting useful minerals.
As to the description of the innovator, the natural fertilizer is assured that it causes no side effects against environment, plantation, animals and people. The practicality of the innovation has a tangible impact in averting environmental pollution in line with protecting public health. This unfamiliar utilization of human urine generates income and substitutes imported fertilizer that costs the nation high hard currency.
Explaining multidimensional benefits of the natural fertilizer, Yohannes said that it keeps away chemical fertilizer, it makes farming land chemical free and accessible with fair price. State Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Shumetie Yigzaw on his part said that encouraging such innovations enables to sprout economic beneficiary. As of him, Ethiopia and other African countries are not accustomed for science and technology. They have been doing several deeds in traditional way. They have no difficulty in generating new ideas too.
The main problem as to him is interpreting to practice. Therefore, great effort is expected as a nation in supporting skilled ones especially young people to enhance innovation, he noted. Adding, he said that countries like Japan, China and Singapore have changed their bygone history, become developed and place themselves in list of mighty nations as a result of paying attention for job creation and encouraging the youth. Professor Masresha Fetene, Executive Director, Ethiopian Youth Science Academy, on his part said that this kind of contest creates competition among innovators and assist African countries solve their social and economic problems through innovation.
Their institution is carrying out its duty of encouraging innovators, as to him. Innovation enables a country to become competitive in the world market through bringing about rapid growth and getting rid of backwardness and illiteracy, he noted. Association for the Promotion of Science in Africa (APSA) is endeavoring to support African youth reach high level in innovation aiming at making Africa the innovation hub, it was learnt from the day’s program.
The association has consigned the young Africans to realize tomorrow’s prosperous Africa through working industriously and advertising their problem solving innovations. As history tells and the real world points out, innovative works bring about significant difference among the developed and developing countries.
Herald March 5/2019
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
