In a bid to make the coal city a technology hub, the Enugu State Government has unveiled an electric-powered tricycle in the state.
It was gathered that the electric tricycle was built by an Indigene of the state Chukwuemeka Eze an Electrical Engineer and it has the capacity to work 18 hours non-stop.
The General Manager of Enugu Tech Hub Centre, Mr. Chidubem Anoworem, who chaired the unveiling certemony mentioned that he was very exhilarated for the new innovation adding that the state’s Eco system was beggining to pick up.
He speech reads, “we are gaining ground, we are altering the paradigm, we are changing the narrative in Enugu. I resumed six months ago, and my standpoint is to bring about a tech-revolution, such that Enugu State will become the next silicon value of technology in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The silicon value is an enabler, where innovations like this are created; so, we want to make Enugu the epicenter of innovations and this is just the beginning.
“We are going to do an incubator programme where software will meet hardware; so, there is definitely going to be more advancements; I am excited that this young man has created this and the Enugu State Tech Hub is going to take him to the next level.
“I am speaking for the Enugu Government; I know that the Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is excited about this; that’s why he created the Enugu State Tech Hub in the first place, to be able to make innovations like this come stay, at the end of the day, it will be a place people will like to come.”
He assured that the State Government would ensure that all the necessary support would be given to inventors in the State.
According to him, “government gave birth to a tech-hub, meaning government knows that innovations that are not normal will happen; government will not be expecting innovations to happen and the same government will now strangulate the innovation by taxation; I am sure that government will make policies or strengthen policies that are already in existence to encourage these kind of innovations.
“So, taxation will be the least problem we will have here; I speak on behalf of the Governor, who I know his plan and vision for the State.”
He admonished tricycle operators in the state to key into the innovation and save themselves the stress of maintaining a gasoline-powered Tricycle
Furthermore, Mr. Elvis Obi Nwankwo, the Special Assistant to Governor Ugwuanyi on Science and Technology, and Mr. Uchechukwu Ogechukwu of Hardware Garage described the innovation as cheering.
“This is the future; this is the future of innovations in science and technology; we are delighted to be part of this history; we are happy it is happening in Enugu. On its part, the government will put right policies; any kind of support that will push this through,” Nwankwo stated.
Ogechuwkwu said, “there has been a huge gap in translating ideas to something that will be saleable in the market; what we are doing is to bridge that gap by helping start-ups; so, this is one of our start-ups and we are so proud of this innovation.”
The inventor, Chukwuemeka Eze of Revive Earth Ltd; a fresh graduate said their goal is to remove gasoline-powered vehicles from Nigerian roads, save cost and save the people from the incessant fuel shortages experienced overime.
He added “I started pursuing this dream from my second year in the university; I was in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, I graduated from electrical engineering.
“What we have succeeded in doing now is to put to use a tricycle that will run without fuel; all you need to do is to charge the battery and you are good to go. The electricity-tricycle will replace gasoline-powered tricycle from our roads. It enables it to run without fuel; it has the capacity to run as fast as 60 kilometres per hour.
He urged the government to grant him full permit for the tricycle to run on the State’s roads.
The Secretary of Tricycle Riders’ Association, (TRA )Enugu State, Comrade Pius Ezugwu, who represented the State Chairman, Comrade Benjamin Ikah said the invention is a good move that will be for the benefit of all
“The invention is very good; it moves very well without engine; the keke rider will no longer talk about fuel or changing engine oil, throttle cable and all of that. It is more economical than the one we are using.”
Ezugwu begged the government to key into the initiative saying that Keke riding can help cushion the effect of unemployment in the society.
He added that the government at the state and federal level should key into this great idea.
