 |
| Michael Ondoro, (standing right) innovator of Poseidon Pump System during the university's innovation week |
By Peter Kombe
Innovators and researchers are calling on the
government to create an enabling environment for innovators throughout the
country to spur technological advancement.
Dr Michael Saulo a Technical University of Mombasa research
scholar says innovation at the university is still low.
Speaking to the press in Mombasa on Thursday during
the university’s innovation week, the researcher said the university is intending
to open an innovation hub to accommodate upcoming technical experts.
“Technology is still low in this institution. We
want to develop an innovation hub that will cater for the needs of our
technical students” he said
He opines that the linkages between the technology industry
and academia still remains weak in developing countries.
Dr. Saulo argues that the situation contradicts
developed counties where technology is in line with academia.
“The linkage between technology industry and
academia still remains low in developing countries” he says
He says the students have a potential of taking
innovation to greater heights taking into consideration the innovations they
have developed.
According to Dr Saulo the university gives seed
funds to students’ innovators to spur up technology.
Dr Ioannis Tsipouridis, a Greek Renewable Consultant
engineer is of the view that Africa is endowed with renewable resources that
only require human exploration.
“There are renewable resources everywhere. We only
need to explore them. Again the government should come in pump in more funds”
Dr Ioannis noted
Dr Tsipouridis argued that it is the role of
government to hugely pump in more seed funds to innovators saying it is a way
of paying back to the society.
The Greek national is however opposed to the
construction of a coal plant in Lamu County.
“I do not back in the construction of the coal plant
in Lamu County. This will be catastrophic to the environment” he said
According to him, the Coal plant will end up
devastating the environment.
He says “the Kenyan government should chip in and
formulate regulatory frameworks geared at supporting innovators across the country”
Paul Akwabi, a student innovator and founder of Tech
Kids Africa is of the opinion that dozens of kids are creative but funding is remains
the biggest challenge.
Paul notes “Tech Kids Africa an online technology
academy platform bringing together kids aged 7 to 18 years. Children as young
as 12 years are able to develop a website”
On his part, Abraham Gatene, a bachelor of biotechnology
student and innovator of a malaria repellent gadget says malaria will no longer
be a problem to society.
“I developed
this app after I suffered Chikungunya. My aim is to ensure that Mombasa locals
remain free on malaria and Chukingunya”
He further argues that he is determined to create
employment opportunities to Kenyans.
Kenyan university students have been at the fore
front in developing innovations that have received world acclaim.
The state department of ICT and Innovation is headed
by Jerome Ochieng.
Comments
Post a Comment