World Food Day (16th October) is an international day to mark the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on the same date in 1945. To mark this year’s celebration, Innov8 Hub recaps the activities of some of the agricultural Innovators who are Fellows of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR). These Fellows developed innovations/prototypes with massive potential of influencing the food and agricultural value system in Nigeria.
Kabir Abdulrazaq’s innovation (Egg Incubator)
KABIR ABDULRAZAQ (Smart Egg Incubator)
Through i-FAIR, Kabir Abdulrazaq designed an automated Smart Egg Incubator, powered by both electricity and gas, for efficient and automated incubation. The creation of his prototype was motivated by the cost-accruing and power shortage challenges of egg incubation, to facilitate the hatching of healthy eggs for poultry farms.
SAMSON OGBOLE (Soilless Farm)
Sub-Saharan Africa experiences the challenge of crop seasonality, which affects fluctuation in the prices of agricultural produce. Samson Ogbole, through i-FAIR, developed a compact soilless farm Hydroponic Grow System, to offer a crop growth system principally made for urban areas, occupying just one square metre of space, and capable of growing over 525 vegetables per time.
ABDULLAHI ORIRE (Sogi Fish Feeder)
Fish farming in Nigeria has been hindered by the lack of capacity and technology to rear fish in large quantities, as the Federal Government states that the demand for fish exceeds 3.6 million metric tons, while the country is only able to produce about 1.2 million metric tons. Abdullahi Orire produced a solar-powered multipurpose aquaculture system for fish farmers to reduce the cost of fish farming by preventing wastage, underfeeding and overfeeding.
ACHI NUAJIED (Ginger Processor)
Achi Nuajied, a ginger farmer from Kaduna, Nigeria, created an automated system for processing ginger into other products. The manual processing of ginger into other products after cultivation is both stressful and rigorous, prompting ginger farmers to sell their produce to foreigners with the capacity to process. She has been able to process her ginger into oils, raisings, balms, drinks, and edible foods.
Since 1999, the African Union (AU) set aside the 13th of September, as the African day for Technology and Intellectual Property rights across the continent. Nigeria, through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has been at the forefront of celebrating this event, which is aimed at exploring and developing the intellectual potentials of Nigerian youths, researchers, inventors, and innovators; as well as enshrining the values Nigeria place on Science, Technology, and Innovation.
This year, NOTAP commemorated the day in the company of the participants from the Research for Impact Bootcamp at Innov8 Hub, Abuja.
The DG of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, in attendance at the event, waxed lyrical on the Innov8 Hub’s facility. He also commended the current and past works innovators have done through the Hub. Speaking furthermore on the need to improve funding for technology and innovation in the country, as well as rallying a call for intellectual property development, the DG was quoted saying:
“We need to see how to improve on the funding of technology in Nigeria. We have a very weak culture of protecting our intellectual property. We have a bad habit of telling the whole world about our ideas and innovation without publishing them the right way. When we do that, we leave it for the public to have a piece of our idea.
If Nigeria’s capacity needs to be developed in the areas of international best practices, every innovation or invention has to first be protected by patenting it. Patenting protects our innovations from piracy.’’ Dr. Ibrahim, also an academic, admonished members of the research community, reminding them that the development of the country rests on them as researchers and members of the academia. According to him, the Nigerian research community knows its problems better than anyone else. No one outside the country should help innovators and researchers find solutions to their problems, as they need to take responsibility for the development of science, technology, and innovation in Nigeria.
Mental health. When we talk about this, a lot of questions come to mind. Questions like, “What causes mental health issues? Are there treatments?
Mental health refers to our behavioural and emotional well-being; however, its crisis is any scenario in which a person’s actions, feelings, or behaviours put them in danger of injuring themselves or others.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics on mental crisis released in May 2021, it was estimated that; 26% of the world’s population suffer from anxiety; while 35% suffer from nervousness; 28% suffer from depression and 50% from psychological distress. See infographics below:
Infographics on mental health wellness designed by Ayooluwa Oluwafemi
Recent research shows that an estimated 20% of people aged 18 and older, or 1 in every 4 adults, suffer from a mental issue in any given year. According to a 2021 study conducted by a reliable source, people are more prone to suffering from health crises if; they have suffered economic loss, have pre-existing medical conditions, or live in densely populated areas.
The question now is, what exactly causes this crisis?
Causes of Mental Crisis
There are many causes, however, some things may have a bigger impact on some people than others. For instance, the following items harm one’s psychological well-being; abuse, trauma, social isolation, racism, social deprivation, poverty, debt, adult drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and severe adolescent trauma.
Therapy does not suit everyone; instead, people can select the treatment or combination of different therapy that works best for them. Some of which include:
Psychotherapy
The treatment of mental disease delivered by a skilled professional is known as psychotherapy. Psychotherapy analyzes thoughts, feelings, and actions to enhance a person’s well-being.
Medication
Medication does not totally treat mental illness. However, it may help with symptom control. The most effective strategy to improve healing is to combine prescription with psychotherapy.
Support Group
A support group is a gathering of people who help each other achieve the common aim of rehabilitation. Support groups usually entail non-professionals who have gone through comparable situations.
Hospitalization
In special cases where a person’s mental health abruptly degrades, hospitalization may be required so that they can be carefully watched, correctly diagnosed, or have their treatment modified. And many others.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, mental illness and poor mental health are different. Without having a mental illness identified, a person may still have poor mental health. A person with a mental condition might have times of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is also important to note that we should not look down on people suffering from a mental health crisis, but help and proffer solutions where necessary.
The process of delivering public statements is known as public speaking. Recent research has shown that up to 75% of people suffer from Glossophobia. Glossophobia is a prevalent phobia which is the fear of public speaking. It isn’t a dangerous illness or chronic disease; it is just the medical name for fear of public speaking. Fear of speaking in public is a typical form of anxiety that most of us have experienced. Individuals with glossophobia may avoid speaking in public, as they typically experience fear and anxiety when speaking in front of a group.
This anxiety may not be restricted to talking to large audiences alone; these people may also have difficulty speaking in meetings, classrooms, groups, etc.
Being tense during a public speaking event affects the way the message is going to be passed or the quantity of the message. Fearful presenters frequently try to avoid the audience in the hopes that this would reduce their level of anxiety.
For instance, many speakers avoid eye contact with the audience to avoid “the judgmental look”. But the problem with this is that you would also not notice when your audience seems more interested or have questions.
You tend to focus more on your thoughts when you don’t have audience contact. And if you are a nervous speaker, your thoughts are bound to be negative and unrealistic.
As a nervous speaker, efforts to hide your fear so that it would not be noticed create additional fear. It just adds to the anxiety that you already feel.
– Ayooluwa Oluwafemi
Tips for Overcoming your Fear of Public Speaking
There are various ways one can overcome the fear of public speaking, some of which include;
Practicing out loud;
Do well to practice out loud, as it is one of the most crucial points. It would help if you practised because reading in the head doesn’t exercise your vocal organs; reading out loud does—practice in front of your family and friends for honest feedback.
Do some deep breathing;
Take two or more deep breaths, and this can be very calming. Take long, deliberate breaths before stepping up to the stage and throughout your speech.
Get organized.
Prepare the content you wish to offer ahead of time, including any audio or visual aids. The better prepared you are, the less worried you will be. If possible, visit the place you’ll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.
Familiarize yourself with the space
arrive early and, if suitable, get on the stage; if not; imagine the audience and where you will stand on stage. Check that all equipment, such as a laptop or projector, is operational.
Understand your audience
will you be speaking to a group of specialists or someone who is unfamiliar with the subject? Being aware of your audience can assist you in structuring and preparing for your presentation. You should always know more than your audience does.
Don’t memorize your speech
committing your entire speech to memory and then forgetting even one line of it might cause things to spin out of control and leave you unable to remember the rest of it. It is far better to know the essence of what you want to communicate than memorizing your speech.
Preparation is the key to conquering your fear of public speaking. Solid preparation would make you feel more confident and comfortable with the whole experience and it makes you more confident in your capabilities as a fantastic public speaker.
E-Cube harnesses solar energy to provide solutions to developmental challenges in-line with the SDG Goals
On May 17th 2022, Innov8 Hub and LR Group commissioned the E-Cube Smart village. The event hosted dignitaries from the public and private sectors. LR Group’s Managing Partner and Innov8’s Executive Director gave speeches at the event. Also, there were speeches from the Ministry of Power, USAID and National Automotive Design.
E-CUBE
The E-Cube is a scalable, flexible and robust all-in-one solution; capable of providing clean drinking water and electricity through solar energy, thereby eliminating the need for traditional electricity sources. It is built around sustainability, making it an asset to communities and organizations. it is erected within 24 hours and requires zero maintenance. The solar-powered centre is built around the green – clean – sustainable approach. It contains the following components;
An ICT Hub
A Charging Station offering clean energy to charge laptops and mobile phones
A Clinic offering primary healthcare services,
A Control Room
Community Centers for relaxation and learning purposes, and
A water purification plant.
The E-Cube Smart Village
Commissioning
Commenting on the E-cube, Mr Doron Retter, the Managing Partner & CEO Agriculture Division of the LR Group, said; “the E-Cube is not only a solar energy system; it is an integration solution with several applications. Its main applications are the e-learning facility, Telemedicine, agriculture production, community centre, water treatment and a community hub. The final idea is to encourage the construction of these components in Nigeria, thereby facilitating the export of E-Cube to other Sub-Saharan Nations and Africa at large”.
Mr Doron Retter, the Managing Partner & CEO Agriculture Division of the LR Group
The Executive Director of Innov8 Hub, Mr Eduard Singhatey, in his speech “the smart village concept with better infrastructure and connectivity”, said; “Innov8 Hub provides an environment, facility and infrastructure for young Nigerians to come up with their ideas and put those ideas into actual products with the help of our experts & mentors (domestic and international).”
While commenting on the E-Cube, he said, “to fasten the efforts of solving are executing the SDG goals, what we need are intelligent solutions. The E-Cube smart Village covers the first seven SDG goals and offers a solution to their challenges at a fraction of the cost of traditional infrastructure development. For instance, Telemedicine would allow people who don’t have access to hospitals or a doctor to get the quality Medicare they deserve but at a fraction of the cost – because a doctor does not have to be deployed. There can be a trained technician that would be an intermediary. Furthermore, the deployment of E-Cube would stem the problems associated with access to potable water for rural areas, thereby mitigating the death and illness toll arising from unsafe water consumption in these areas.
He added that “a facility like this at the centre of the community would have a multifaceted benefit that would change lives overnight. Users get access to a steady power supplysupported by solar energy, potable water, ICT and educational facilities in a conducive environment. If we follow the traditional routes to development for the SDGs, albeit noble, our efforts will turn our intents into distant dreams. But with intelligent solutions offered by the E-Cube, we are guaranteed a lesser cost, more features, easy adaptability, and ease of installation across different areas”.
He further urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to buy into the concept of E-Cube smart Village to alleviate the suffering and lives of the citizens. According to him, the E-CUBE concept is worth $250,000 and was invented according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030). It will help solve the challenges of rural needs in e-learning, agriculture production, Telemedicine, community centre, water treatment and connectivity hub. He also noted that achieving development in the rural area is an expensive feat as ten million people do not have access to electricity citing the World Bank report in 2020”.
Speaking to journalists, a representative of the LR Group of Israel, E-Cube, Avi Eluayam, explained that the “E-CUBE is scalable. We can have a smaller system, and we have a larger system. The system that we have on display here has 50 kilowatts of modules and can generate 300 kilowatts per day. That is enough for a community of 300-400 families. The cost of it is about $250,000. So it is a high capital cost, but then for 20 years, you have zero maintenance costs. You don’t need to buy diesel, and you don’t need to transport diesel. You don’t need to deal with environmental issues. And I think that in Nigeria, we can receive long term financing and then if this system can finance for 20 years, we can have a meagre monthly cost for this.”
L-R: Brig. Gen. O O Odunuga (Rep. DG Defence Research and Development Bureau), Mr Jelani Aliyu (DG National Automotive Design and Development Council) and Mr Avi Elkayam
The Acting Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Department of the ministry, Mr Ali-Dapshima Abubakar, praised the E-Cube initiative and confirmed it as a new turn affordable and sustainable in Nigeria’s power sector. In his keynote address at E-Cube’s inaugural and demonstration ceremony, he stated this.
Mr Abubakar, represented by Engr. Sam, Chief Electrical Engineer in the ministry, said that renewable energy through solar energy has become critical to the future of power generation for Nigeria’s megacities, industrial hubs and rural areas. Abubakar said: “Permit me to commend the commitment and dedication of the LR Group on the design and commissioning of E-Cube. I believe this is a good beginning for more such projects that will increase access to energy affordably and sustainably.”
L-R: Mr Meir Dagan (GM Innov8 Hub), Mr Avi Elkayam, Mr Ilan Lugassy, Prof. Gregory Ibe (Founder and Chairman of Innov8 Hub and Skill G Nigeria Limited), Mr Doron Retter, and Mr Eldad Loewinstein
Other Notable organizations represented at the event are; the Defense Intelligence Agency; Central Bank of Nigeria, USAID, US Embassy, ECOWAS, SHETSCO, Firma Advisory, NADDC, AEA, Energy Commission, Access bank, NERDC, NDLEA, NPSP, Embassy of Hungary, Project Support Service, University of Abuja, 9 Mobile, Nigerian Correctional Service (prisons), SON, NEMA, NASENI, Federal Ministry of Power, NNPC, FRSC, NSCDC, SOBAMS, EFCC, NCAIR, NITDA, NCAIR, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank, NUC, NIRSAL, Sea Quest, NACCIMA, Clean Tech Hub, NBTE, BOI, and several media agencies.
The Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at Innov8 Hub organized a workshop to commemorate IP Day ’22. The Workshop hosted professionals, students and organizations. This year’s celebration was themedIP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future. This year’s theme focused on ways young innovative, creative and energetic minds are steering positive change.
The event was held at the Event Hall of Innov8 Hub. Ms Victoria Onyeagbako the Intellectual Property Manager for Innov8 Hub moderated the event. The workshop featured panellists from different sectors and fields of expertise. The panellists were; Dr M.K Abba (Head of Learning Center) from IntelBox Solutions Limited, Mr Oluwajoba (cofounder) from Nest Hub, Ms Eno-Obong (Principal Registrar) from Patent and Design Registry, Mr Akpan (Director, Nigeria Copyright Institute) from Nigeria Copyright Commission.
The focal point of this workshop was to encourage Nigerian youths to think creatively when innovating. The Keynote speaker, Mr Oluwatobiloba Moody PhD (Assistant Professor Queen’s University, Canada) spoke on Youth and Innovation; Innovating for a better future. The panel session elaborated on the best practices for innovating a better future, and the role of patent and design registry in encouraging innovation in Nigeria, among others. Furthermore, panellists examined the regulatory measures during the innovation cycle and the stages.
As a department at Innov8 Hub, TISC acts as an arm of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Created in 2009, TISC aims to enable developing countries to better harness their innovative potential. TISC supports the development of countries’ IP capacity through access to patent data, scientific publications, search tools and databases. They provide a range of tech and innovative services that help inventors and researchers unlock their potential. These services include; access to patent and non-patent databases; networking; IP awareness & others. They also support patent search, filing, analysis, drafting & support, and use of patent information. Furthermore, commercialization and technology transfer support are one of their services.
To help them function efficiently, TISC staff undergo training from WIPO to support capacity building and skills. This training equips them with the knowledge and skills to offer a range of high-quality services to innovators. These training courses are in the form of on-site workshops, seminars and others by the WIPO Academy. Topics covered by this training include but are not limited to; basic concepts and skills in patent search, types, analysis etc.
TISC support for capacity building is facilitated through partnerships like The Access to Specialized Patent Information (ASPI) and Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI). ASPI enables institutions in developing countries to obtain free or low-cost access to commercial patent database services. While ARDI aims to increase the availability of scientific and technical information in developing countries through a public-private partnership with the publishing industry.
The World IP Day ’22 at Innov8 Hub was attended by participants from Universities, Hubs, The Government, US Embassy and other organizations. Ms Izunna, the Human Resource Manager for Innov8 Hub gave the closing remarks.
We are excited to announce a partnership with the Nigerian Society of Engineers. on the 22nd of April 2022, Innov8 Technology Hub signed a partnership agreement with The Nigerian Society of Engineers. Representatives from both parties were present at the agreement signing. the partnership will usher in a new era for engineers in Nigeria.
R-L: Engr. Tasiu Wudil (President of the NSE) and the Representative for Innov8 Hub
The Nigerian Society of Engineers serves as the mother organization for Engineers in Nigeria. It handles members’ needs through its well-structured programmes and regular interactions among members. Thereby, promoting professionalism and ethical practices. The organization started as an initiative by a group of graduate engineers and students in the UK in 1958. Initiated at the Nigerian House in London, the Society has been active since then. Afterwards, it was registered as a company limited with a Guarantee at the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria.
Innovation Technology Hub is a not-for-profit and innovation-driven organization. Its core objectives include grooming a generation of innovators, inventors and researchers. We are also passionate about establishing a culture of innovation and creativity. We support innovation, start-up incubation, technology transfer, knowledge and skill sharing, and prototype development.
This is done by supporting the transformation of ideas into inventions, inventions to solutions and solutions into enterprises. Through several initiatives and partnerships, we unify brilliant minds with gifted hands. These innovators are given access to an enabling environment, mentoring, expertise, and technology for idea transformation.
The partnership between Innov8 and NSE is for capacity building in specific and specialized fields of engineering through the Technical Working Committee. The partnership would provide NSE members with an avenue for workshops and laboratory practice. This would allow the members to experiment in various fields of engineering/technology at the Hub. Furthermore, the partnership would drive research & development, special project design and implementation. Joint research on selected engineering disciplines would also be promoted.
Collaborating with the NSE on our mission of promoting an innovation-driven culture in Nigeria is a welcomed idea for us. We appreciate the commitment of the President of NSE, Engineer Tasiu Wudil and his team towards the encouragement of Innovation, Invention, Technology Transfer and Human Capital Development in Nigeria.
Encouraging farming in Urban centres through sustainable systems.
As a developing nation, agriculture is important to Nigeria. Livestock farming, fish farming, forestry, and crop production make up the agricultural sector. Crop production accounts for 87% of the products from the sector. To end extreme poverty, agriculture can increase earnings and ensure food security.
A study by the world bank in 2016 revealed that 65% of poor adults make their living through agriculture. Agriculture contributed 22% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2021 (NBS). The sector employs over 36% of the labour force making it the largest employer of labour in Nigeria. 80% of farmers in Nigeria are Small Holder Farmers (SHF). Between 2016 – 2019, these SHFs produced 90% of Nigeria’s agricultural produces.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces several challenges. Firstly, because the supply of agricultural products cannot meet the demand, we import. Secondly, there is a shortage of value chain linkages in the sector. The seasonality of crops leads to a fluctuation in price. Furthermore, the location of farms in rural areas mitigates easy transportation. Then there is the problem of food storage which creates food wastage and shortage.
The Solution
Samson Ogbole the founder of “Soilless Farm” and an i-FAIR participant, has developed a sustainable solution to address some of the sector’s challenges. The soilless farm solution will promote the growth of SHFs. This is done through the use of a hydroponics system that would ensure all-year-round vegetable growth in urban areas. The hydroponic system is a 1.5m by 1m grow system with the capacity to grow 500 vegetable plants (100kg of vegetables) per month.
A mini version of the hydroponics system for sustainable farming in urban areas
The problem with crop seasonality is solved by cultivating vegetables all year round. Furthermore, by selling these vegetables, these SHFs would increase their earnings.
i-FAIR
The Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) is an innovation-focused initiative. It focuses on raising a generation of innovators, inventors, and researchers in Nigeria. The fellowship training takes place for 6 months. The fellowship provides workspace, equipment, and monitoring for participants. This will enable the participants to transform ideas into inventions, innovations into solutions and prototypes, ready for industrial uptake. During the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Researchers (i-FAIR), Samson, under the mentorship and support of experts from the fellowship, was able to develop a working product.
Using a smart egg incubator to solve egg incubation challenges in poultry farming.
Poultry farming in Nigeria contributes 26% of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP. Farmers rear domestic birds like chickens and others for meat and eggs as a source of protein. However, poultry farming is faced with challenges. One of the challenges faced by poultry farmers in Nigeria is egg incubation. According to statistics from the World Bank in 2020, the Nigerian agricultural sector currently employs 35% of the population.
Egg incubators facilitate the hatching of healthy chicks for poultry farming. The high cost of egg incubators is a problem for poultry farmers who want to buy them, and this affects their poultry output. Furthermore, some of these incubators are powered by electricity. Therefore, when there is a power outage, the incubation process is at risk because temperature plays a vital role in the egg incubation process.
Kabir Abdulrazak, a poultry farmer and innovator, has come up with a brilliant solution to tackle these challenges. He designed an automated smart egg incubator powered by both electricity and gas. The incubator solves the problem of power supply by switching to gas whenever electricity is cut off. The system also regulates the temperature to ensure that the incubation cycle stays safe. The best part of Kabir’s innovation is that the materials used in developing the smart incubator are locally sourced. This gives more poultry farmers access to a cost-friendly incubator.
Smart Egg Incubator
i-FAIR
The Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers is an initiative for raising a generation of innovators, inventors and researchers in Nigeria. The 6-month innovation start-up is an initiative of the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria and the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria. It provides needed workspace, equipment and mentoring to participants, to enable them to transform their idea into inventions, innovations into solutions and prototypes, ready for industrial uptake.
As a participant at the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Researchers (i-FAIR) Kabir under the mentorship and support of experts from the fellowship, was able to not only come up with a proof of concept but also develop a working product.
The WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally-based, high-quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.
The services that will be offered at the TISC include access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications, assistance in searching and retrieving technology information, training in a database search, on-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement), monitoring technology and competitors, basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, as well as technology commercialization and marketing.Explore the medieval charm of Prague’s Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock.
