The Cross River State Commissioner for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel is matching words with actions in his new state’s assignment as he has begun meeting with local science and technology inventors, one of which was a team led by Miss Odenke-Odemonke Ibiang and Williams Eteng, local innovators of a dual-capacity carburetor tricycle, popularly known as ‘Keke Napep’.
Dr. Justin Beshel, whose aim is to advance the status of local innovators in manufacturing in the state, met with the team alongside some management staff of the Ministry of Science and Technology at his office, in the Fabrication Academy of West Africa, Calabar, where he requested to know the goals of the team, the challenges, and how the government can assist in boosting the local manufacturing processes.
In response, Williams Eteng thanked Dr. Beshel for taking the bold steps to patronize and improve local content and its innovators and for the recognition. He explained that the tricycle (Keke Napep) was built from scratch in Calabar with locally assembled equipment through self-motivation.
Williams Eteng explained that his vision is to have a Cross River State dominated by his local innovations. Williams said he would design and build a thousand tricycles with the capacity to use fuel, gas, and solar energy. He will also develop a customized sensor detection system that will enable the tricycle to move remotely and detect threat factors in advance.
Eteng noted that the major obstacles to achieving his goals were finance and lack of government support. He said that with government support, he will achieve more than what he has already accomplished.
In conclusion, Dr. Beshel assured the local innovator(s) of the state\’s commitment to harvesting local talents into an incubation of knowledge. “We are doubling our efforts in harnessing the potential of our youths, and by the grace of God, the state will stand out in science and technology.”
