Following the incessant call for well rounded,
entrepreneurship-oriented, as well as employable
youths, Caro Favoured School, Awodi-Ora, Lagos, is
set to join schools across Africa to compete in
Junior Achievement Nigeria’s National Company of
the Year Competition, slated for June.


Its students, ranging from ages 15 to 17 years, have
invented a hand-held rechargeable traffic light under
the their independently set-up company, Inventive
Explorers.

Comprising of 33 students, all in Senior Secondary 2,
executives of the company; Chibuike Jacob, Osinachi
Daniel, Somto Nwachukwu, Emmanuel Anyanwu,
Blessing Omosebi, Uchechukwu Obi, Uchechukwu
Fredricks, Chizaram Igwe, to mention a few, shared
their experience at being inventors and balancing
work, school, family and play, with being innovative
entrepreneurs, under the supervision of their Co-
ordinator, Ebuka Ughamadu who is also the
Managing Director of the school.




How was this idea born?

It was a collective effort, they all contributed one
idea or the other. Jacob birthed the idea of the hand-
held traffic light and they all chipped in one thing or
the other. Blessing brought the idea that the device
should be rechargeable, Somto improved on the
conventional red and green light and suggested they
spell out STOP in red and GO in green.

Uchechukwu Obi chipped in that the prototype hand-
held was too bulky for the average hand, so they
worked on that, while Osinachi insisted on high
quality LED bulbs for optimum visibility at night.
This enables the traffic signals to be visible as far
as 20 meters during the day and 50 meters at night.
For durability and avoiding adverse reflection during
night use, as well as moisture, Emmanuel
recommended the use of Acrylic glass, a transparent
termoplastic.



How does it work?

It can be turned on by simply flicking the switch
either ways or off with a light push using the thumb.
As it is, improvements are constantly being made.
Initially, with the prototype, the battery lasted just 90
minutes when charged, now it has been improved to
charge for 90 minutes and last three hours with
continued usage.


We also did a test run at Boundary Road, in
Ajegunle, with the traffic wardens. They liked the
device, particularly its portability and its zero
likelihood of malfunctioning, however, they
suggested we make the signs visible both ways so
the user does not have to keep turning around for
motorists to see the signs. This enhancement they
will also effect.

Is the device’s market not just the government?
Here one of the executives, Osinachi said; “besides
government employed traffic wardens, we are
targeting, schools, places of worship, event centres,
eatries, banks, companies, businees places, markets
and anywhere there is movement of vehicles and
pedestrians in considerable number or high
frequency. Hence, the innovation, due to its
portability, can be used by school security to control
traffic thereby aiding students cross the road safely
to school and back. It can also help company or
event centre security agents control traffic when their
vehicles tribute into major roads from their premises.
It is for everyone, be they public or private.”
What challenges did you face whilst executing this
innovation?


To this Uchechukwu Fredricks said; “Getting high
quality LED bulbs was really tough. Fortunately we
found them and have established a relationship with
a supplier who delivers whenever we need them.
Time was also a challenge as we could only work
after exams.”

Chizaram then disclosed; “Capital was a challenge
because as students we do not have money. We
resulted to making home-made scouring powder
from egg shells, detergent and ashes we got from
street food vendors. We sold the scouring powder to
our neighbours at home to generate capital. We also
organised film shows after exams for our school
mates for a token fee.”



What does Caro Favoured School hope to gain from
this?

Ughamadu said; “It is entirely their project, the
company is theirs and registered in their name. The
proceeds from the innovation and from participating
in the competition would also entirely go to them.
Basically, we know this competition will gear them
towards entrepreneurship. It has given them an idea
of how businesses are set up and run.

Learning at this early stage means that they know
that they have a part to play in the scheme of
things, they have also come to know that the way to
survive and excel in the business world is to
continually add value. In all we are seeking to have
well rounded students who are entrepreneurship
oriented.”

The competition’s organisers, Junior Achievement
Nigeria, is a part of Junior Achievement Worldwide,
the world’s largest and fastest growing non-profit
economic education organization with a 120-country
network, that has reached over 700,000 students in
over 1,000 schools.

The National Company of the Year Competition is
designed to inspire innovation in students through
entrepreneurship. It involves the creation and
management of innovative enterprises with business
models that respond to the students’ local
environment and provide positive impact in the
community.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/students-invent-hand-held-traffic-light-ease-congestion/

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