By Uche Nworah.
A 16 years old SS3 student of Cummunity Secondary School Okpuno, Awka South LGA of Anambra State, Dikanna Onuigbo has invented a machine that processes bitter leaves (Onugbu in Igbo language).
Onuigbo of Uru-Orji village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State demonstrated his invention for the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Accompanied by his father, Peter Onuigbo, Dikanna said his dream is to patent the invention and secure funding to commercialise it. He also said that the machine will relieve people from using the time wasting hand processing method they have traditionally used over the years.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke praised Dikanna for his resourcefulness and said that Anambra State is blessed with rich talented people. He assured him that the state government will sponsor him to study Mechanical Engineering in the university and will also help him to patent his invention.
Present at the demonstration are the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Afam Mbanefo, Commissioner for Lands, Hon Nnamdi Onukwuba; Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Rev. Amaechi Okwuosa; the Executive Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Dr Amobi Ifediora; Emenike Ezinando, Permanent Secretary Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture. Others were Chuma Aduba, Chinedu Okoye-Oyibo, and Captain John Okakpu of ABX World, the company that exports vegetables from Anambra State to Europe and other parts of the world.