News

Friday, March 11, 2016

Maker Faire Africa underway in Accra - With call on African Universities for technology dev’t
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

This year’s Maker Faire Africa (MFA) is underway in Accra with a call on African Universities to show passion toward the development of technology on the African continent.

The three-day Event Showcases Entrepreneurship in Four Key Areas: Arts & Crafts, Robotics, Agriculture & Environment, and Science & Engineering.

The event, which is being sponsored the British Council, Ghana and participated by Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya and Malawi.

Speaking to Journalists in Accra to open the faire, the organizers of the event, Mr. Emeka Okafor, Nii Simmonds, Henry Barnor, Erik Hersman and Emer Beamer said the event focused on bringing together acts of ingenuity and inventions from across the continent.

They added that the three-day event would host a series of workshops, seminars and lectures focused on 4 key innovation areas.

Designed to create a space on the continent where Afrigadget-type innovations, inventions and initiatives can be sought, identified, brought to life, supported, amplified, and propagated, this conference will answer the question, ‘What happens when you put the drivers of ingenious concepts from across the African continent together and add resources to the mix?’

With more than 900 people expected to participate, MFA is a chance to change the conversation about Africa from development to innovation

“So often the world hears the bad news coming from the African continent. Maker Faire is a chance to highlight the innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunity that abounds in Africa,” said Nii Simmonds, co-founder of Maker Faire Africa.

“With MFA we can create a space where the best and brightest can come together to support each other, exchange intellectual capital and find the resources they need to deliver products that fulfill the most basic to the most complex needs on the continent. And this is just the beginning. We hope to propel this into a platform that continues to bring people and products together for the future.”

MFA will deliver four conference tracks all fostering conversation and collaboration with attendees:

Robotics – Lead by Afrobotics in the ROBOlab, this track host lectures as well as a LEGO robotics workshop and competition.

Agriculture & Environment – takes a new look at sustainability, green technologies and innovations such as biofuel and architecture.

Science and Engineering - this track will highlight new innovations from the 3rd annual IDDS at KNUST as well as a series of hands-on workshops.

Arts & Crafts – held at an outdoor art center this track will showcase everything from sculptures to toys to textiles.

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