Nigerian Airplane Inventor Solicits FG’s Assistance to Complete Project

Nigerian Airplane Inventor Solicits FG’s Assistance to Complete Project

Nigeria’s first miniature airplane inventor, Mr. Aghogho Ajiyin, from Oghara, Delta State, on Thursday solicited the assistance of the federal government to help him become the first African aeroplane manufacturer that can be deployed to monitoring oil pipelines, security surveillance and for recreational purposes.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline after about 10 minutes flight demonstration in the presence of the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and the ministry officials at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the inventor said the first time he attempted to build an aeroplane was in 1992 in Warri, Delta state.

Ajiyin said plane can fly above 4,000 feet within a radius of 5 kilometres, assuring journalists that the plane will be flown for five hours in the forthcoming miniature plane festival planned for December.

According to him, "I had this passion that I think can suppress that downward pull of gravity in the air in 1992 and 1994, and with several attempts but little success.”

The young inventor who said he had little education, added that he mustered the courage in 1997 through research and reading of book, which led him to the application of some flight principles.

"With this, I was able to achieve some successes, and in 1999, my first plane was able to take off from the ground unaided for about a couple of feet from the ground.

"From 1999 till date, I have been able to transform and refine the previous version of the primitive one to the sophisticated masterpiece that was on display today,” he stated.

On his expected assistance from the government, Ajiyin added that: "Having come this far, I have really packaged everything, and one of the major support that I need now is finance to put everything in a workable system--and having the opportunity to talk to the minister today.

"I want the government to help me with the plane festival and perhaps sponsors will emerge as it is done abroad," he added.