Africa : African Technological Advancement

militant

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Jun 21, 2005
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This thread is dedicated to showcasing the technology leaps made by Africa countries. I have scowered the internet for all African inventions except those made by white settlers in Africa. Only the inventions I could find have been posted, so there might be more out there. Some of them are old news, however, they might have gone unnoticed by many of us. Though these technological leaps may pale in comparism to those of Western nations, they show the some of our misguided need to "invade africa and civilize it". With adequate funding, we could see these developments becoming more significant.

I post the first one:

Nigerian Satellite Blasts Into Orbit

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By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Writer

LAGOS, Nigeria - A Nigerian satellite blasted into orbit Saturday aboard a Russian rocket, propelling one of the poorest nations on earth into space for the first time.

Millions of Nigerians watched the launch — at Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome — on live television.

"It makes me proud to be a Nigerian," said Prosper Sunday, a 27-year-old security guard in Lagos. "It shows our nation is progressing. We've joined the space age."

The government plans to use the $13 million satellite to monitor water resources, soil erosion, deforestation and disasters, space agency spokesman Solomon Olaniyi told The Associated Press.

It will be used to watch military facilities and the country's oil pipelines and infrastructure. Nigeria is one of the world's largest exporters of oil, but thieves siphon off hundreds of thousands of barrels everyday.

"It's a great feat for Nigeria," said Joseph Akinyede of the National Space Research and Development Agency, based in the capital, Abuja. "We have a footprint in space."

On Earth, Nigeria is struggling to provide 132 million citizens with clean water, basic health services and education.

Most villages outside state capitals have no running water or electricity, 70 percent of the country's roads are dirt tracks, and over 30 percent of the population is illiterate. Per capita income is about $290, and less than one percent have telephones, according to the World Bank (news - web sites).

"The satellite is a waste of money," said 21-year-old Gabriel Mordi, selling mobile phone cards on a dusty street in Lagos, a city that is a colossal sprawl of millions of rusting tin-roof shacks and palm trees. "They should be helping the poor. Most people here are just struggling to find something to eat."

In the northern city of Kano, barber Adamu Ahmed, 27, who was shaving a man in a blue-flowing robe on a sweltering street, said he was unaware of the launch since he had no radio or TV.

"They haven't told us much about space," he said. "I've heard of people going to the moon, but I don't know how they got there."

The word for satellite is "tauraru danadam," which means "human moon" in the local Hausa language.

The Nigerian government hopes one day to build and launch its own satellites.

The NigeriaSat-1 was produced by British-based company, Surrey Satellite Technology, with the help of Nigerian technicians trained in Britain, Olaniyi said.

The Russian Kosmos-3M rocket that lifted off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome with NigeriaSat-1 carried five other satellites with it — two from Russia, and one each from Turkey, Britain and South Korea (news - web sites).

A team of 15 Nigerian scientists and engineers will control their country's satellite from a ground station in Abuja during its five to seven year life-span, Olaniyi said.
http://archive.wn.com/2004/04/22/1400/p/f9/89f473cf8b4cd3.html
 
First Made-In-Nigeria Car Launched


Nicholas Ibewuike, PANA Correspondent

OWERRI, Nigeria (PANA) - The first made-in-Nigeria saloon car known as Z-600 has been launched in the eastern city of Owerri.

Nigerian engineer and Chief Executive of Izuogu Motors, Ezekiel Izuogu, said at the launch Tuesday, he conceived, designed and manufactured the car, which has been tested by the country’s vehicle inspectors and found roadworthy.

The entire body work and chassis frame is our design from first principles. We also made the mould from which the body can be stamped out to produce hundreds of thousands of cars, Izuogu said at the elaborate presentation ceremony.

The Z-600, built on 4-stroke 1800 cc engine, Izuogu said, could cover some 30 kilometres on one gallon of petrol. The engine could also be mass-produced and put to other uses like agricultural mechanisation, standby electricity generator and tricycles, among others, he said.

The unit price of the new car is put at between 150,000 and 180,000 naira (between 1,800 and 2,000 U.S. dollars). Nigeria has several vehicle assembly plants, but new cars have been priced beyond the reach of the average salary earner, forcing many to patronise the booming market of imported used vehicles mainly from Europe. Izuogu said it would require some 200 million nairas or 2.4 million U.S.

Dollars to set up a factory that would be able to produce about 30 Z-600 saloon cars a year. It is as low as this because we have the expertise, he added. Also speaking, the Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, challenged Nigerians to invest in similar technological ventures.

He said by manufacturing the car, Izuogu had demonstrated the spirit of self-reliance, adding that the theory of technology transfer was a myth. Diya said the breakthrough showed that Nigeria, which is endowed with human and material resources, could as well play a great role in world economy like the Asian Tigers.

He said Nigerian engineers needed to be encouraged. Also speaking, Nigeria’s former foreign affairs minister, retired Maj. Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, said it is gladdening to see a black man, a Nigerian, design and manufacture a car that is indigenous to Nigeria. Nwachukwu said no country could be free economically without having its own industrial base, adding that education must be addressed squarely as democracy prevails.

Nigeria’s minister of science and technology, Maj. Gen. Sam Momah described technology as the bedrock for development. Technology is prosperity and progress, he added. Momah said the ministry would assist Izuogu Motors to produce the new car brand for the market.
Pictures seen here. Now it kinda looks funny, but it shows that will limited resources, Africans are still inventive.
http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/africa/77798.stm
 
Technology Meets Culture: Nigerian invents multilingual computer keyboard

A MULTILINGUAL computer keyboard, capable of typing "diacritical marks and characters" of over 400 Nigerian languages has been invented.



advertisement

The inventor is a Nigerian mechanical engineer, Mr. Olukayode Oluwole, who is based in the United States.

Diacritical characters and marks are meant to distinguish different sounds and meanings of various words and letters, according to language experts.

Unveiling the new invention in Lagos on Monday, Oluwole, who is based in Boston, Massachusetts, said that the keyboard, which has already gone into commercial production, would hit the Nigerian market in May.

The keyboard will be marketed by Lagos Analysis Corporation (LANCOR).

He said that he, along with another U.S based Nigerian, Mr. Ade Oyegbola, president, LANCOR and Mr. George Van-Lare, managing director, LANCOR, spent about eight years on extensive research before they completed the project.

Oluwole noted that Ambassador Yusuf Usman, Ciroma of Katsina, chairman of LANCOR, made significant input in providing the Hausa autograph of the project.

"We initially thought of only the three major Nigerian languages, but had to go beyond that to cover every language group in Nigeria when we realised that it was feasible," he stated.

According to him, the new keyboard christened KONYIN - Yoruba for 'drop of honey' - accommodates all the alphabets in local Nigerian languages, as well as four major currency symbols, including the naira sign.`

odili.net/news/source/2005/apr/20/16.html
 
ZINOX Launches First Made-in-Nigeria Computer (Posted 20th Nov, 2001)
Today marks a milestone in the socio-political and economic sphere of Nigeria. As the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar rightly said, "it is historic". The launch of the first made in Nigeria computer by Zinox Technologies today 9th October, 2001 at the Eko Le Meridien Hotel, showcased the potentials of Nigeria's private sector. The event was a major attraction for many, not only were the computer whiz-kids present but an array of important functionaries and technocrats graced the occasion.

On hand at the occasion as the chairman is the Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, his Imo State counterpart Governor Udenwa, Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tena Isong, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Adams Oshiomole, Microsoft Nigeria General Manager Mr. Gerald Ilukwe among others. The event was a celebration of ingenuity as the Microsoft head said in his speech, "Zinox is the first authorised computer manufacturer in the world to launch the latest operating system the Microsoft WINDOWS XP". The company has passed the Microsoft Quality Laboratory Test (MSQL), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified by Microsoft and Intel, Zinox stands out as the first branded computer in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Governor reiterated the need for the Federal Government to focus more on the Information Technology industry. He referred to his recent trip to the United States and his invitation to the Oracle Corporation, all in the interest of developing the IT sector. The Minister for Science and Technology, Professor Tena Isong confirms Federal Government's strong desire to connect Nigeria to the Internet as this will accelerate Nigeria's economic growth. He used the opportunity to appeal to well meaning Nigerians to adopt a school in their area and computerise it in line with the Governments Computerisation Project.

The Vice President feels happy about the Zinox breakthrough. He assures the private sector of Federal Government support in the IT industry. In line with this desire, he mentioned the launching of the IT policy in April this year, the policy seeks to enhance cooperation among private sector, Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) and Government for IT development in the country.

Zinox Technologies is a company that is jointly owned by Stan Tech, Nigeria, Mustek, South Africa and ALHENA, France. According to Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Technologies,the company has already invested over N750,000,000 in this project. They intend to inject another N800,000,000 in the next year to enhance operations. It intends to create over 2,400 jobs for Nigerian within 2 years. The importance of after sales support services will be stressed by the company with a "NO STORY" 1-3 YEAR, warranty. This is coupled with four major support centers across the country; Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ikeja and Victoria Island.

The Senate President, Chief Anyim unveiled the Zinox Discount Scheme for Nigerians, this allows for 10% discount on PC's, 7.5% discount on UPS and Laptops and 3% discount on all computers for educational institutions and cyber cafes. The NLC President, Adams Oshiomole unveiled the worker's discount scheme which offers 7.5% discount for PC's, 6% for Laptops and UPS, and 3% on all printers. The snag in this offer is the 30th December, 2001 expiration date.

http://www.nigeriabusinessinfo.com/zinox201101.htm
 
Nigerian Satellite To Be Launched From Xichang Launch Center

Illustration of Dongfanghong 4.
Beijing (XNA) Apr 18, 2005
China is expected to put a self-made communication satellite into orbit for Nigeria in 2007, making the African nation the first foreign buyer of both a Chinese satellite and its launching service.
The news came as Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Beijing last Thursday (April 14), starting a four-day state visit to China.

Describing the satellite export as a "milestone" in China's history in space, an official with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp said the satellite, called Dongfanghong 4, will be put into orbit by a Long March 3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Space Launch Centre in China's Southwest Sichuan Province sometime next year.

"China Aerospace will also help to train Nigerian technicians," said the official, identified as Li, adding that so far China has sent 28 foreign satellites into space.

The trip is Obasanjo's third visit to China after assuming the presidency in 1999.

During a meeting with Obasanjo, President Hu Jintao said Nigeria has become China's major trade partner in Africa and the two countries enjoy rapid growth co-operation in the fields of oil and gas exploration and infrastructure construction.

Hu suggested the strategic partnership develop by focussing on four aspects: enhancing political negotiation through high-level official and other personnel exchanges, increasing bilateral trade and two-way investment, strengthening co-operation in key fields and reinforcing negotiations in international affairs to protect the interests of developing countries.

Obasanjo, also the rotating president of the African Union, said Africa and China should continue to seek common prosperity by strengthening friendship and co-operation, saying Africa is hoping China can support and take part in the process of resolving the conflicts in the region and enhance co-operation in the fields of trade, investment and agriculture.

The two presidents yesterday also witnessed the signing ceremony of five agreements; two of them are governmental agreements on economic, trade and investment co-operation and the rest concern communications business.

As part of the agreements, Shenzhen-based Huawei Technologies will deploy US$200 million worth of CDMA450 wireless access technology across Nigeria and has also committed to an additional US$20 million manufacturing investment in Nigeria.

"Nigeria is one of our major overseas markets and it has great potential" said Huawei President Ren Zhengfei.

According to Wang Junqiang, Huawei's representative in Nigeria, the wireless access technology will provide the necessary coverage to address the current telecommunications digital divide between rural areas and cities in the African nation.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-05zn.html
 

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