• Says the minister lacks innovativeness
By Ugochi Ndukwe
Following the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbanna Onu’s disclosure to produce a made in Nigeria pencil in the year 2018, Senator Ben Bruce has called out the Minister over his lack of innovativeness, considering the latest Solar Power Bus made in Uganda.
The Minister expressed hope that the plan of producing pencils in Nigeria would have a “meaningful impact” on the economy, because the wide aim of the ministry is to “commercialise developed ideas and research findings to principal levels”.
The minister, however, declined further comments on the importance of pencil production, saying Nigerians would be amazed at the multiplier effects, which will include the creation of at least 40,000 jobs.
But to this effect, Senator Ben Bruce of the PDP disagrees, according to his controversial tweet, the Senator said, “I hope our Minister of Science has seen the made in Uganda Sola Power Bus? Let it provoke him to think beyond pencil production in 2 years”.
According to BBC news, a solar-powered bus described by its Ugandan makers as the first in Africa has been driven in public.
The Kiira Motors’ Kayoola prototype electric bus was shown off at a stadium in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
One of its two batteries can be charged by solar panels on the roof which increases the vehicle’s 80km (50 mile) range.
The makers now hope to attract partners to help manufacture the bus for the mass market.
According to the maker, people have been excited by the idea that Uganda is able to produce the concept vehicle, or prototype, and Mr Musasizi said he wanted it to help the country “champion the automotive, engineering and manufacturing industries” in the region.
He also hopes that it will generate employment, predicting that by 2018, more than 7,000 people could be directly and indirectly employed in the making of the Kayoola, unlike the wobbly idea of pencil creation by the Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology.
