The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has produced machines for hand washing and sanitiser as part of its contribution to governments’ efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the hand-free and pedal-operated equipment on Saturday, the Rector, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye, commended the efforts of the Department of Mechanical Engineering on the initiative.
The rector said that aside the hand washing and sanitising machine products, the Polytechnic has other initiatives that will attract patronages from across the country.
“The Polytechnic is already making contacts to present the pedal-operated handwashing and sanitising machine to the Ekiti State Government.
”This is with a view to seeking their interest and support to produce more of the machines for use across Ekiti State and beyond,” he said.
The Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Abayomi Olorunishola, who demonstrated how the machine will be operated, said that the department came up with the idea of the machines to provide solution in managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dean, School of Engineering, Dr. Emmanuel Adeosun, while presenting the three sets of the machine, said the beauty of the machines were that users needed not to touch them with their hands before applying soap, washing and sanitising.
Also, the Director, Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation at the Polytechnic, Dr. Israel Aluko, said the idea of fabricating the machines was with the intention of securing orders for mass production.
Aluko said this while presenting similar, but different designs of a pedal operated hand washing and sanitising machine for the Rector’s inspection at the Centre.
According to him, order for mass production of the machines will make them available in large quantities for sale in the state and round the Federation.
Aluko said that nobody knew when the Pandemic would end, adding that the processes of washing and sanitizing their hands were still the best option in preventing people from contacting any virus,especially, COVID-19.
The inauguratiin was witnessed by the Principal Officers, Deans, Directors and Management staff of the Polytechnic.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Polytechnic’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation, fabricated the two different types of Pedal-Operated Hand washing and sanitizing machines.
It reports that the fabrication of the machines followed an earlier production of face masks, liquid detergent and hand sanitizer by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and the School of Science and Computer Studies of the Institution.
