The in-built generator is made up of a mixture of waste electrical components including two (2) rectified diodes, two (2) transformers, two (2) transmitters, two (2) circuit boards, two (2) earths and two (2) switches. “It has a life span of six years-if the precaution is adhered to by the user”, one of the inventors said.
The inventors-Emmanuel Alie Mansaray, 21, and Andrew Sahr Norma, 20, are former pupils of Methodist Boys High School, Kissy, east of the capital Freetown. Emmanuel and Andrew say they did not inherit inventing skills from their parents, rather they were fortunate to learn Physics and Technology as subjects at school, from where they were selected in early 2017 to represent the Methodist Boys High School in the ‘Science Fair Innovation Competition’ held at Fourah Bay College-University of Sierra Leone; funded and organized by the Engineering Department of Cambridge University-UK, and Women in Mathematics, Cambridge and Science Resources Africa.
Emmanuel says the idea of inventing the generator came as a result of his visit to Kambia District, north-western Sierra Leone, early this year, where he noticed the total lack of electricity, “and my co-inventor has also been sharing similar experience in his home district-Kono”. In Emmanuel’s view, the generator will be of “economic benefit and a blessing to inhabitants in rural and remote communities where poverty is largely felt”.
Andrew suggests that in future, their knowledge in technology will help them and Sierra Leone as a nation, if they are blessed with international scholarships to pursue their education in science and technology in any advanced university around the world.
Prior to the invention of the 600 watts in-built generator, Emmanuel and Andrew had invented a single-seater solar tricycle and a mini radio station. The solar tricycle covers about 50 kilometers per hour-which they say can be of immense importance and benefit to especially persons with disabilities, considering their challenges on mobility and the acute shortage of transportation for the populace of Sierra Leone.
The local inventors’ radio station of about 700 meters-range, with a tiny transmitter, which they named: “Kuntorlor Community Radio” has always been interruptive to the bigger radio stations in the community including Citizen and Tumac FM in Kissy, Freetown. “We decided to shut it down as a result of persistent complaints over interruption in the airwaves, since ours is unlicensed and unauthorized”, Emmanuel lamented to the press.
If admitted into the University of Sierra Leone this academic year, Emmanuel will study Geology, and Andrew will study Engineering. Over the years, they have been getting minor financial and moral support from Kite-SL, an NGO that deals with issues of persons with disabilities.
