17 August 2013, Abuja – The federal government is exploring possibilities of bankrolling the manufacture of an environmentally friendly airless and energy generating football that can last for one and half years and can be used as electricity power source when not in play.
The product, named Power-Generating Soccer Ball, invented by a young Harvard trained Nigerian Jessica Matthews was Friday presented to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.
In his presentation of Matthews product, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga said it was multi-purpose product that could be used to not only generate electricity but also charge mobile phones.
“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 Jessica has also agreed to be one of our Ambassadors in terms of promoting entrepreneurship in our universities”, Aganga said.
According to him, “the President recently launched what you call the University Enterprise Development Programme where we are encouraging universities to have Enterprises Clubs. One thing we want to do is to bring successful entrepreneurs like Jessica to inspire them and make them more creative so that they can also be employers of labour and encourage them to think more deeply”.
The minister lauded the inventor and the product, observing that “she is an inspiration to every Nigerian, especially our children in Nigerian Universities. This is a product not only for Nigeria but a product made in Nigeria by a Nigerian and for the world.”
Appreciating the work, President Jonathan congratulated the inventor on her creativity and innovativeness, saying he was particularly impressed that she was multi-talented and has developed herself in science despite the fact that she was a psychologist and economist.
“It is a proof of the quality of human resource we have in Nigeria,” he noted, adding that her presentation of the invention at home, here in Nigeria showed that she is patriotic.”
– Muhammad Bello, This Day