By Augustus Onyekachi Nwaozor, Anipr
A team of Students from Faculty of Engineering, Imo State University (IMSU) has emerged Second best out of 85 teams from 25 institutions in Nigeria, that participated in the second edition of Tertiary Institution Student Energy Pitch Competition, organized by Nigeria Energy Forum.
The competition took place between 8th and 9th of July, 2024, at Marcellina Conference Centre, Along Radisson Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. As the only Institution from South East region of Nigeria, and the only State owned University in Nigeria among 25 other institutions that competed, the IMSU Students team developed what they call "Power control box", which gave them Victory as second best.
Speaking during the price presentation visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Uchefula U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, in his office, the students team leader, Mr. Muoleeh Samuel, in the company of the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Engr. Professor A. U. Iwuoha, FNIMechE, FCP, the Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engr. D. O. Isiohia, the Faculty Students' Projects Coordinator, Engr. (Mrs.) H. E. Emeribe, and other students' team leader explained that the box is an energy conservation and management system for energy consumers.
According to Muoleeh, the Power Control Box enables the users to
- Monitor power availability and power outage in real-time
- Control every power-needed equipment in the home
- Track Power Consumption and provide metering
- Protect every electrical appliance from low and over voltage issues
- Automatically changeover connected energy sources
- Provide energy analysis for better decision making. He added that all cases above `can be achieved using SMS, voice call and internet, with or without a smartphone.
He however, announced that as second best among the 85 teams, they won a cash price of one million, and one hundred thousand naira (#1,100,000:00), and were charged to use the money as a start-up fund to improve on the invention, and mass-produce the improved version for commercial purpose, because what was presented at the competition was just a prototype.
In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor expressed his delight over the cheering news, saying that the students have made the University proud. He added that his Administration's insistence on quality teaching and practicals are yielding needed results in many Faculties and Departments because IMSU students always standout in various fields of human endeavours in any part of the world. Professor Chukwumaeze therefore urged the students not to relent in their efforts towards writing their names and that of the University in gold.
On their part, the Dean of the Faculty, Engr. Professor A. U. Iwuoha, the Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engr. D. O. Isiohia, as well as the students' projects coordinator, Engr. (Mrs.) H. E. Emeribe said in unison that what they did was nothing but provide the guidance, but for the idea, it originally came from the students team leader, Mr Muoleeh Samuel.
The IMSU students team are; Muoleeh Samuel (Team Leader), Ndulaka Joy Mmesoma (Member ), Offiong Wisdom Joseph (Member), James Emmanuel Ikenna (Member), and Udemba Christabel (Member).
Augustus Onyekachi Nwaozor is
The Assistant Public Relations Officer
of Imo State University, Owerri
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