Neccesity is the mother of invention.
You can build a simple but powerful steam engine. There are lots of video on youtube that you can use to know how to build it. You can also convert internal combustion engine to a steam engine. To power the engine, all you need is wood, sawdust or charcoal. Wood and saw dust can be found everywhere. I do not think this is too much for a group of nigerians to build.

I have had it in mind to make things like this but I have always postponed it. I am interested in experimenting on this. What part of the country are you situated ?