Abuja – The Federal Government has appointed Jessica
Mathews, a U.S.-based Nigerian, who invented energy
generating football and skipping rope as an
`Entrepreneurship Ambassador’.
The Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr Olusegun
Aganga, announced this on Friday after the presentation
and demonstration of the invented products to President
Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.
Aganga said, “Mathews is an inspiration to every
Nigerian, especially children, and the product is
portrayed as made by a Nigerian for the world.
President Goodluck Jonathan (m) juggling the Suckett
Football to electricity (a new invention)
“The product is actually versatile, it is not just about the
electricity you see, you can use it to charge your mobile
phones and fans so there are so many things for which it
can be used.
“We are also looking at the possibilities of
manufacturing it in Nigeria and see how we can make it
cheaper in this country.
“I am glad that Matthew has also agreed to be our
ambassador in terms of promoting entrepreneurship in
our universities.
“What we want to do is to bring successful entrepreneurs
like Matthew to inspire the students and make them more
creative so that they can also be employers of labour,’’ the
minister said.
Matthew, an Edo-born inventor, who demonstrated the
soccer ball, said it could generate three hours of
electricity after 30 minutes of play and could store power
for 72 hours.
The electricity generated by the ball, according to her,
can be used as electricity source to power lighting points
and household equipments.
Mathews, 25, and Co-founder of Uncharted play, said the
airless football used as electricity power source when not
in use, could span for 18-months before replacement.
The inventor, who studied Psychology and Economics in
Havard University, U.S., said she taught herself Electrical
and Mechanical Engineering because of her interest in the
field
She said her motivation to invent the ball and skipping
rope came when she attended a wedding in Nigeria and
there was a sudden power outage.
“I am a Nigerian and was in Nigeria, it was my Aunt’s
wedding and we lost power. How many times, is there
anyone who has not been affected?
“For me, I was raised to seek a solution when there is a
problem. To be as creative as you can and be opened to
different ways so you can address the situation,’’ she said.
Mathews, who spoke on why she chose to use football,
explained: “to me, we all know that football is the most
popular thing in the world.
“To most people, football form is the most convenient;
any man on the street will be attracted to kicking
football.
“So, the idea is to put something that people really love
and get more out of it.
“These are the things we can use to see if we can amplify
existing behaviour to bridge the gap between what is
working and what is not working in this country that we
love so much.
“We take our passion for sports that is so beautiful and
we say okay, let’s give people renewable clean power that
they can control.’’
She said the innovation, which had been accepted and
already in use in the U.S., would be affordable when
mass-produced and introduced into the Nigerian market.
“Right now, if we are going to sell it here in Nigeria, it
will be equivalent to what you will pay for a solar
inverter.
“Right now, we have not started making them here, we are
selling them in New York and in New York, we charge
people a lot because it is New York,’’ she said.
Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, said Jonathan congratulated
Mathews on her creativity and innovativeness.
“The president is particularly impressed that Matthew is
multi-talented, and that she developed herself in science
despite that she is a psychologist and economist.
“It is a proof of the quality of human resource we have in
Nigeria and the president is proud of her,’’ Abati said.
Abati said the president assured that the invention
would be used as a major tool to mobilise young children
and encourage them to think more deeply. (NAN)
www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/fg-appoints-electricity-generating-football-inventor-as-ambassador/

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