Covid-19: NSE donates solar -powered hand-washing machines to Osun Govt

Governor, State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola,  on Tuesday received four  solar- powered hand -washing machines, donated by the state branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,  NSE,  to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

Oyetola, while taking the delivery of the machines through his Deputy,  Benedict Alabi, described Engineers as pivotal of  national development.

He lauded the creativity  of the association in coming up with the device, adding that such  innovation would aid the country's foreign exchange earnings.

According to him, the machine is a sensitive device  that does not requires any physical touch before functioning, saying, it is a significant step in the quest of  flattening  the curve  of the virus.

Oyetola,  promised that the government would support the association in commercialising the newly developed device,   as a way of  promoting  local content, and in line with the government vision for economic viability. 

 He said, " As a government, I want to thank you for your immense contribution to the fight against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in our state.

" This is a noble idea and worthy of emulation by every association of your type,  in tandem  with the vision of government to promote local content for economic emancipation of our people".

Presenting the machines to the government,  the outgoing chairman of the association in the state, Engineer Olalekan Salami,  stated that the administration of Governor Oyetola got  it right from the beginning,  by appointing into his cabinet certified members of the association, the move he  described as round peg in a around hole.

He commended the   Governor  for his proactive move to effectively contain the pandemic at the point an index case was detected in the state,  as he expressed   the  willingness of the association to continue to contribute its quota to contain the spread of the virus. 

 "This  is our contribution in an indigenous way to support the government and  ensure that we put this pandemic behind us in the state.

" We will always do our best in the development of our state to ensure it becomes first and pride to all", he said.

In his  remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources and Energy,  who is currently the National Vice President of the association,  Engr. Adeniran Ibitoye,  said members of the association have proven their worth and talent by creating  solar-powered hand washing- machine,  in line with the promotion of local content initiative.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public health, Pharmacist Olasiji Olamiju,  said personal hygiene,  especially regular hand washing with soap and water is very effective in the prevention of Covid 19.