Future engineers of Nigeria

have been attending classes at Hope House Technical Center. These engineering students are enrolled in both mechanical and electrical disciplines at ABU university. Most are in their 5th year of studies and will graduate this spring.

The Hope House Tech center was started to provide additional training and exposure to technology not normally taught in the university. I first became involved with 5 students in September of 2006 when, with their help, we installed the first amateur radio station for the blind in Nigeria. I was so impressed with these student's attitudes, intellect, and desire to learn that I wanted to do more teaching. During my visit in March of 2007 there was very little time that I could spend with the students due to their class schedules but we did manage to visit about their needs and wants. From this discussion it was decided to do future training in micro processor computer development which is the heart of almost every modern day electronic device.

For this trip things were going to work out well with their class schedules and my time here at Hope House. 8 students were able to commit to 3 afternoons of hands on training in learning the basics of computer controls. What would be a semester course was covered in 2 intense days to get the process started. The students preformed brilliantly! On the second day we were programming a computer chip using the hardware I brought with me.
Armed with this knowledge of how things work they can begin to identify opportunities to design and build electronic devices to solve problems. One student is going to design a water tank control system that will automate what has been a manual process. I have encouraged them to be entrepreneurs and control their own destiny and I think it starting to happen. By being engineers and solving problems then starting businesses to build the products will help create economic justice by reducing imported technology. Built in Nigeria!

The final day of training focused on a project for Hope House. Dirk and I brought with us hand held radios (walkie talkies) and a UHF repeater system. The radios are needed to enhance security and provide a way for staff to stay in touch with each other to become more efficient. The Ultra High Frequency repeater is a device that extends the range of the hand held radios. Being exposed to 2 way radio design was a new concept to the students and it is not taught at their university. After installing an antenna part way up the tower then soldering connectors, the repeater was turned on. It was an instant success. Andee could communicate from the far reaches of the city with only a hand held radio to the staff at Hope House! Another successful project that also taught by involving many in the process........

Even though the 3 days was not near enough time to cover everything I wanted to, we have the foundation started that I'm sure with their enthusiasm great things are going to happen. Besides, we have the Hope House Internet system to stay in touch with to keep the fires going......