By ABIODUN ESAN

The Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Kwara, has invented solar-powered machines, which can prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr Adetunji Oni, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ilorin.

According to him, the machines include solar-powered automated hand-wash sanitiser system; solar-powered sound automated pee toilet and hand clap switch and solar-powered hand-rub, ultraviolet (UV) wave sanitiser system.

The registrar said that the institution had also invented an automated fumigation disinfectant system, as part of its contributions to the fight against the pandemic by government at both the federal and state levels.

He said that the exercise was supervised by Dr Abiola Olafimihan, who, he said, set up the COVID-19 Technical Committee, chaired by Dr M. A. Fowomola, to midwife the project.

Oni added that the institution had invented an automatic fumigation machine, which was demonstrated during the donation of the device to the traditional rulers of Offa, Ipee, Erin-Ile and Ojoku by the Rector, Dr Lateef Olatunji.

He said that the Oloffa of Offa, Oba Gbadamosi Esuwoye, expressed happiness with the invention of the machines by the polytechnic, describing it as a laudable achievement.

Oni added that the automatic fumigation disinfectant system was invented by Mr Aduloju Emmanuel, a lecturer in the Department of Science Technology, who converted solar energy into mechanical energy.

He said that solar energy was stored in the battery, which enabled it to spray the disinfectant automatically, rather than the usual manual pumping method.

“It can be used to fumigate the environment and other public places to curtail the spread of COVID-19,” he added.

The registrar said that the solar automated hand-wash sanitiser, which could dispense soap, water and sanitiser sequentially, was also designed by Aduloju.

“The device has a censor, which detects human presence and automatically triggers the discharge of soap to rinse hands for five seconds from the first dispenser.

“The second dispenser in the middle will in turn dispense water for 20 seconds to wash hands, while the third dispenser then releases sanitiser for three seconds,” he said.

Oni added that the solar-powered sound automated pee toilet system was conceptualised and designed by Mr O. A. Somoye, a lecturer in the Physics unit of the department, presently doing his doctoral programme in Nottingham University, United Kingdom.

The device, he said, was developed for urination without touching or having contact with any object in the toilet.

“The pee system works with a sound. Once the user finishes urinating, he makes a sound with the thumbs and water starts running automatically from the tap for about 30 to 40 seconds to flush or rinse off the pee.

“The pee system is developed to avoid contact with objects in the toilet, which might have been touched by another user,” Oni said.

He added that the hand-clap solar-powered hand-rub ultraviolet wave sanitizer system was also a product from the Physics unit of the department.

He said that the device was designed and developed by Mr Yusuff Moshood.

“The machine works automatically by clapping hands. Once a user claps, its power is on. Then place hands in the radiation and it sanitises them, devoid of liquid particles,” he said.

The registrar added that all the devices had been presented to the management of the institution for regular academic and research activities. (NAN)

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