IS IT TIME FOR SETTING UP AFRICAN ACADEMIES?

                     How many "inventions" come from Africa? Are africans "capable" of inventing something? If yes,where are these inventions? If no,what is the hindrance? Are these setbacks man-made or "natural"? What is the solution to this? OK! Lets unpack these questions. Inventions come and go. They are reflections of women and men. Inventions are expressions of a peoples' ability to think and resolve challenges. And this begs the question :- are all solutions inventions? Methinks yes! If you are capable of unlocking possibilities then you are an "inventor"!

                     Lets look at our home grown inventions: Kelvin Doe,16, is self-taught teenager who has never had the luxury of taking engineering classes in his home country of Sierra Leone. Yet at 13 years-old, Doe was able to create batteries and generators out of spare parts and resources from trashcans, which he used to power his own community radio station and family home. All with the help of some scrap metal, baking soda, and acid.

                     You remember that Malawian inventor; WIlliam Kamkwamba! At age 14, he built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap, working from rough plans he found in a library book called Using Energy and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home.

                     The list is long.Lets look at the anatomy of these inventors. All these chaps made their inventions from scrap and scratch. They didn't have support material (for research) prior to their inventions. Three,as soon as they unveiled their inventions,they were "poached" and flown out of the African Continent. Four, their governments looked from a distance as they braved all challenges to actualize their thoughts. Lastly, their work will remain to be a true pointer of our abilities to think and "invent".

                   From this; it is imperative to note that africa is rich.The african people are clever and sharp.They are ready to actualize their dreams. They have the energies to surmount these challenges. And this begs  the question :- is it not the opportune time to set up African Academies to tap into these virgin minds? Think about it!