By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, on Monday interacted with a student, Mr Adebayo Kehinde Sunday, a graduate of Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, who invented drones.
The Commissioner and some officials of the ministry interacted with the young inventor and the Provost of the College, Mrs Victoria Jagboro, where the Commissioner’s assured of the State Government’s support.
According to the Commissioner, such innovation falls within the science and technology aspect of the ministry, and that is why we are very interested in encouraging the young man.
He stressed that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, was keenly interested to see how far the government could push the young inventor because that kind of talent was always rare to come by.
”The talent is in the young man and we want to ensure that we do everything possible as a government to support him”, he said.
The Commissioner emphasised that the young inventor’s story, showed that he had not been so privileged because all his schooling had been from one local primary school to another local secondary school, and now in the state own tertiary institution.
”So, he is not as if he is such a child who has been so exposed to technology and ICT, that is why it is a clarion call.
”I am so glad that His Excellency sees it like that. So, the young man is going to get all the support that he needs to be able to take that innovation to another level”, he said.
He added that the student would meet with the Governor, after the ministry might have completed its own process.
He added: ”the governor is usually encouraged when he sees young people who are doing great things; this is one of those things, and the Governor will definitely support”.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, commended the student for his commitment and determination on the innovation, assuring him of the ministry’s total support.
On her part, the Provost, Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba, expressed her excitement on the exploit of the student, saying it has projected the institution to limelight.
He commended the Commissioner and the Governor for having interest in the student, and for their commitment to the development of education, science and technology in the state.
Speaking to journalist after the meeting, the young inventor, Adebayo Sunday, said he had developed passion for innovation right from his childhood and has always been motivated by his father who is an engineer.
He said he had built several toys like helicopters and cars, before he eventually made up his mind to build something reasonable and not just toys which he had been doing from childhood.
”When I made up my mind to build something reasonable, that was when the idea of building a Remote Control (RC) Plane and drone came into my mind.
”I slept one day, and saw a sketch of a drone in my dream, and when I woke up, I was able to imagine the sketch and drew it on a cardboard, and since then, inspirations have been coming in my dreams and imaginations”, he said.
Sunday, who studied Metal Works at College of Education (Technical) Kabba, explained that the first three to four drones he made, flew and crash landed immediately after taken-off, until the fifth attempt which eventually flew and landed successfully.
He added that he had built upto four different RC planes such as Fixwings, Quadcopter, hexacopter drones, that had flew and landed successfully and could perform various functions.
”The Surveillance drone plane I made recently can go maximum of about 500 metres distance and 500 metres above sea level. It has camera to record all its activities, and faster on the sky; it can fly about four to six minutes and eight minutes at risk level”, Sunday said.
He solicited for government and individual support in terms of scholarship to study abroad and get more practical knowledge to advance his innovative capacity.
