NITDA pledges support to students on innovation

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has assured management and students of Glisten International Academy, Jahi, Abuja, of its support towards its innovation of a robot, Mairabot, to fight COVID-19. The Director General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, gave this assurance during a virtual demo by the school to the agency in Abuja. Abdullahi was […]

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has assured management and students of Glisten International Academy, Jahi, Abuja, of its support towards its innovation of a robot, Mairabot, to fight COVID-19.

The Director General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, gave this assurance during a virtual demo by the school to the agency in Abuja.

Abdullahi was represented by Dr Vincent Olatunji, the Director of eGovernment Guidelines, Development and Regulations, NITDA.

Olatunji who chaired the meeting commended the students that developed the robot stating that it is an innovation that will come very handy during and after this pandemic.

He assured them that the robot will be a welcome development to the relevant MDAs and he is positive that it will be adopted once the product is ready for use.

Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji, the National Coordinator, Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE), a subsidiary of NITDA, also commended students of the school for coming up with such innovation at a tender age and urged them to upgrade to the next level.

Earlier, some of the students had a video demonstration of the robot they invented to enhance the operations of front line medical personnel who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus.

The school’s robotics team referred to as Glisten makerspace education came up with the innovation in response to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 infection cases and the effect on front line health workers.

Mairabot which is a collaborative effort of the Glisten makerspace education team was created virtually with the help of coaches and brilliant design ideas uploaded by students on robotics learning management system platforms.

According to the students, Mairabot comprises six artificial intelligence features that aid movement, memorisation, interaction, navigation, capturing and courier.

The innovation of Mairabot would aid the Federal Government in its fight against the virus and also the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, in achieving ‘’Good health and well-being’’, they added.

From the video monitored online, Mairabot has the capability to navigate in between beds in a hospital ward, supports and saves live video sessions between doctors and patients in isolation.

It also takes and records temperature readings, and carries up to 5kg drugs for distribution to patients in isolation wards.

The students’ coaches are: Adeniyi Ogedengbe, Pius Emeka, Mayowa Taiwo, and the Executive Director of the school, Mr Abbu Saidu.