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By Oluwatobi Opusunju and Chinedu James
‘Dormotics for the Disabled,’ a solution designed to aid the physically challenged by leveraging on Internet of Things (IoT) is the winning entry to represent Nigeria at the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) scheduled to hold later this year in Dakar, Senegal.
‘Dormotics for the Disabled,’ emerged as one of the winning entries in the February prep robotic competition in Lagos – after series of selection processes put together by the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) which attracted a significant number of competing groups from the 19 northern states of Nigeria. The selection process in the north was anchored by PARC in partnership with StartupArewa, an organization that advocates for northern Nigeria, targets at breaching the tech gap and empowering the northern ecosystem.
With ‘Dormotics for the Disabled’ emerging a winning entry at the February pitch in Lagos, it will be representing Nigeria in Dakar.
“Domotics for the Disabled’ aims to develop an innovative idea that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to bring succor to physically challenged persons living in low-income Africa with regards to ease of controlling electrical/electronic devices in their houses. The idea is to enable them use their mobile phones to control appliances in the home, thus minimizing the hardships encountered by such people if they have to move around to do even the most basic of tasks in their homes,” said founder of Startup Arewa, Mohammed Jega in statement sent to IT Edge News.
The team that made ‘Domotics for the Disabled’ include Fatima Auwal Aliyu(a female) and Peter Balarabe W. and Yusuf Salisu Bako. The ‘Domotics for the Disabled’ team got strong support from Mallam Adamu Auwal Gene of ICICT ABU Zaria and Musa Muhammad of Brainiacs who helped to provide mentoring all through the preparatory process. Others are Prof S. B. Junaidu of ABU, Zaria who acted as both a father and mentor; and CEO of KadICThub, Mallam Yusuf Bashir.
The “Domotics for the Disabled’ team has actualized this idea that is but a dream come true to many low income and average Africans with a system that controls electrical circuits around a traditional house without having to spend heavily in re-wiring the house or buying expensive hi-tech equipment. What more could be possible if the global needs of the undeserved become the primary focus of our inventions,” said Jega.
This team is helping to positively change the narrative popular among millions of people that the north of Nigeria is only all about farming. The north is home to the largest university in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Abuja, where this group of young talented brilliant minds have emerged from and are set to make history, said Jega.
“We are also thankful to the entire management of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Abuja for their support. We wish the team the very best as they compete with their counterparts in Dakar Senegal,” added Jega.
#teamCuttingEdge #proudlyArewa
#startUpArewa
#naijaAllTheWay #DakarIssagoal
#PARC2018
