Kashif Inuwa’s son, Al-Amin, emerges winner at robotics competition

Al-Amin Kashif Inuwa, the son of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has emerged winner of the 3logy Creative Kids’ Robotic Competition.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the 12-year-old Al-Amin emerged winner at the competition after constructing a rechargeable fan.

Speaking during the virtual award ceremony on Saturday, Mr Inuwa commended the organisers of the competition, saying that the initiative was in line with the objectives of NITDA and the supervising Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

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“So for me, this training, in general, is key to what we do at the ministry and also it would help us to even benefit in the post COVID world.

“Recently, Microsoft predicted that in the next five years, by 2025, there are going to be 149 million new jobs in the area of emerging technology, mostly artificial intelligence, robotics and computing in general.

“So this is preparing our young one to benefit from this opportunity of COVID-19 or the silver lining of it in general,” Mr Inuwa said.

The director-general, therefore, expressed his willingness to partner with the 3logy in the area of “catching them young”.

He said: “I have also seen an opportunity to partner with 3logy to do more because catching them young is better than leaving them till they get to higher institutions.

“This is what they do in developed countries. Young persons from primary or secondary schools are now coming up with robotics projects and other fantastic things.

“I, therefore, look forward to partnering with you in helping us prepare our citizens for the post COVID world and the future in general.”

Earlier in his remarks, the 3logy Limited Managing Partner, Nasirudeen B.Yakubu, CEH, charged the participants to rededicate their efforts towards learning IT skills.

He said: “If we want our country to stay on the cutting edge, we need young people like you to master emerging technologies that will change the way we do everything.”

“We live in a time of change. Change that’s affecting the way we live and the way we work. New technologies replace any job where work can be automated.

“That is why 3logy limited is training the future captains of Digital Economy that will have work in the future,” he added.

The young Al-Amin, on his part, said robotics is a nice and exciting field to study, “and I am inspired to become a robotic engineer”.

“The goal of robotics is to design intelligence machines that can assist you and me in our daily work,” he added.

Speaking on how he constructed the rechargeable fan, young Al-Amin said: “Firstly, I drew the design on a cardboard paper and used my scissors to cut out the shapes.”

“I then used my glue gum to glue the pieces together. Finally, I connected my DC motor, led bulb, switch and my battery together.

“I intentionally painted my rechargeable fan green-white-green colour to represent Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.”