COVID-19: OSUN CORPS MEMBER INVENTS MECHANISED HANDWASHING MACHINE

A corps member serving in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State,  Akinniyi Abimifolu Michael has invented a mechanised handwashing machine as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. 

The corps member with state code number OS/19C/4678 said his invention which was initiated and fabricated by him was sponsored by a good-spirited member of his host community who wanted to contribute his quota to the scheme's fight against the spread of the pandemic. 

Abimifolu, a graduate of Agriculture and Bio-environmental Engineering from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure said the invention was born out of his perceived need of the society and the trending news on the pandemic. He said that his passion was also fueled by the Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen Shuiabu Ibrahim who had sent out a directive to corps members nationwide to use their expertise and ingenuity in the fight against the pandemic. 

"The directive of the Director-General and the motivation of the NYSC Osun State Coordinator spurred me to action.

I wanted to do something special for the scheme,  something that would outlive food or monetary palliative, something that will be useful to the scheme during orientation programmes as I read that camps may be opened soon.

This made me come up with the mechanised foot-operated hand washing machine as my colleagues in other states have done. Since the virus can be spread by touching,  then there is a need for the invention of handwashing machines that will not be operated by hands but by pedals" he said. 

Abimifolu presented the machine to the state coordinator, Mr Ayodele Adegoke at the NYSC secretariat in Osogbo on Thursday. 

He explained the makeup of the fabricated machine and demonstrated how to use it to the admiration of the state coordinator and members of staff present. The machine according to him has an overhead water tank,  a frame,  wash hand basin, discharge and pedals to dispense the liquid soap and water. 

Abimifolu said he decided to fabricate the mechanised machine because it was cost-effective,  maintenance and user friendly and very durable compared to automated machines. 

The state coordinator, Mr Ayodele  Adegoke commended Abimifolu for his ingenuity and contribution towards the reduction of the spread of the virus. He further commended the local government inspector, Mrs Ajibola Tutu for not only relaying the message of the director-general to the corps members but for also encouraging and motivating them to act on the directive. 

According to him, the local government, like other local governments in the state had recently produced and distributed face masks and sanitisers to the people of the locality. 

"I commend your efforts and that of other local government inspectors who have been committed to the scheme's efforts in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus in the country.  I want to urge all local government inspectors not to relent but to borrow a leave from Isokan and Iwo local government inspectors who went extra miles in motivating their corps members to invent an automated handwashing and a mechanised hand washing machine respectively" he said.