Pee Generator Girls – Inspired Amidst Morbid Despair

For a country that seems permanently designed to despair and is persistently failing to inspire the citizens, particularly the true patriots, there was a cheering news this week.

The news, which was not given coverage on the Nigerian mainstream media, not even a mention in the technology columns, is the story about the four teenage secondary school students that created the unique invention of powering an electricity generator with urine.

Before moving on on the story of the true four amazons and heroines in these times of despair in our nation's history, let's spare space to ask what really interest the mainstream media in Nigeria? Is it the paid adverts that day after day, weeks and weeks numb our senses; hailing and most times in superlative, albeit superfluous and far-from-the-truth terms, the wreckers of our individual and collective destinies and dreams? Is it the news of bomb blast by another soul drenched in despair that sees fulfillment only in wrecking more havoc?

These days I wonder what role the mainstream media serves the nation and the citizens. For most of the recent times, the mainstream media have fallen from the glorious height of being the 'fourth estate of the realm' and disappearing with the fall is objectivity, inspiration, professionalism, and more importantly sustainability. This concern for some time has brought close to my heart the question of the sustainability of the media houses built on sinking sands and basking in ephemeral glories stationed in fleeting clouds. If these media houses do not change their ways, in a matter of decade, many of them will be dead just like the long forgotten leagues that reigned pre and post independence.

Back to the cheering news, the online international media and in far flung places, as far as China and the US reported the showcase of an invention by four teenage girls – Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, Faleke Oluwatoyin and Bello Eniola. These our four heroines, let's call them the 'pee generator girls' have push further the path to solving global energy crisis using the most unlikely raw material – urine. These four young ladies between the ages of 14 and 15 have set the stage for advancing the science of power generation, exploring more possibilities for reversing climate change and providing an enduring solution to our perennial problem of waste.

This invention which must have of necessity been spurred by the persisting darkness and problem of fueling generators in the 'transformation era' of subsidy removal and unending scarcity of petroleum product is Nigerian. It is an evidence of the possibilities inherent in the undying zeal and creativity of a people, whose nation's leadership know nothing but to persistently suppress the energy and creative talents of her citizens, denying the African continent glories worth emulating.

The urine powered generator which report in many online channels has spurred many comments and debates by experts and pundits on the technical feasibility of such invention, and of course, hateful comments from the many naysayers; those who believe nothing good can come out of the continent that has for long been consigned to despondency. This invention is a testament that nothing commendable and worth-the-while is impossible with us as Nigerians and as Africans, if we try and apply our abiding and robust energies to healthy creativities.

While the pee-powered generator invention showcased at the Maker Faire Africa event held November 5 and 6, 2012 in Lagos makes waves across the world, the challenge for the leaders of Nigeria at the various levels of both public and private sector, is how are we looking inward for solving our persisting energy problems? Have we exhausted all the possibilities within our borders for solving electricity problems and the raging fuels scarcity grinding our economy to a halt? Have we explored the use of our natural gas as alternative and cleaner option for fueling our generators and automobiles? Imagine over a million jobs that would be created if all the generators in Nigeria run on LPG, if nearly all homes in Nigeria use gas for cooking and let say a quarter of vehicles on our roads as well as tractors and other heavy duty equipments are powered by gas!

The technology and science for solving our persisting energy and fuel crisis are not beyond our reach. It is time to allow the inspiration of the 'pee generator girls' sink through and throughout the nation.

Taofeek Ramat
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