Yesterday, at the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship
Programme held in Lagos, an unnamed corps member was recognised for
building a driving simulator from scratch.
The official handle of the NYSC described the corps member as a
‘genius’, and this has kicked off a new conversation on social media on
whether the graduate’s fabrication is actually a work of genius.
Driving simulators, used for entertainment, are also used in most
driving workshop programmes, to teach driving and also, to observe the
behaviours and performance of potential road users. Also, this page
adds that the invention had been adopted by the car industry to
“evaluate new vehicles or new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).”
And so, while this work by the Nigerian graduate who showed off his
fabrication yesterday is impressive, the design of a driving simulator
isn’t very note-worthy because they are regular fixtures in arcades.
Instagram user seasurferr had
this to say: “What exactly did he build? A simulator? Does it teach u
how to drive like on Nigerian roads? Yeah it looks like an arcade {sic}
so he needs to say what he build so it can be appreciated more.” And
another user Opeyemi Franklin, noted, “Anyone who has gone to an arcade
won’t be so much marvelled. Well he tried, for a Nigerian. But I used
the stuff/game when I was 7 and now, I’m now in my mid 20’s. But again,
he tried. For a Nigerian.”
It is a good thing the corps member did, because while his mates are
intent on seeking out bank or oil company jobs, he dared to be creative.
His attempt has created an opportunity for the modifications of an old
invention.
Often we read about Nigerian students who have dared to create. While
some were ignored, some were given a few minutes shine on social media,
before they slunk into oblivion with no encouragement given to the
hungry mind intent on creating. In a few years, the works are left
behind, and Nigerians continue to consume, massively, already-made
products imported into the country daily.
For the 2016 NYSC members who showed off their works yesterday, they
had opportunities to meet with Waheed Olagunju, the Acting Manager of
the Bank of Industry. According to 11112016/07/20/253-nysc-members-get-n426-7m-boi-loan/”>Daily Trust:
“The Bank of Industry (BoI), says it has disbursed N426.7
million to 253 members National Youth Service Corps under its Graduate
Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) programme.”
Perhaps now, more graduates will be encouraged to create something
new, or improve on old inventions that would solve a typical Nigerian
problem.