Sierra Leone News: DSTI to Launch Drone Corridor Project in Njala University
By Aruna Kamara in Bo
Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in partnership with UNICEF has disclosed plans to launch the National Drone Corridor Project.
This disclosure was made at a ceremony which took place at the secretariat building on Njala Campus which attracted major stakeholders including tribal authorities and authorities of the University.
Making a statement, the Ecosystem Manager, Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mamoud Javombo said the launch of the National Drone Corridor project is one among series of innovations introduced by the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation under the leadership of Dr. David Monina Senge, whom he said is the architect of the said project.
He said that the Drone Project plays host to drones which is also likened to an airport where it will be used as a landing site for all drone operations under the project.
Javombo said that banking on the resourcefulness of Njala University in areas of ground breaking research, they at DSTI are poised to ensure that Njala University serves as a hub in leading the way in Science, Technology and Innovation.
He said that the drone corridor was intentionally hosted on Njala campus so that students in the Schools of Technology and Agriculture will be accorded the opportunity to be trained in manning drones and also flying drones.
In addition to the drone corridor which is an impactful and beneficial initiative, he said plans are underway to establish an innovation lab which will accord the opportunities to students to translate knowledge acquired in classrooms in a more effective perspective. “Both the innovation lab and the drone corridor are the top notch innovations that we are poised to achieving under the leadership our Director David Monina Senge,’’ he remarked.
Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Njala Campus, Dr. Philip Monya commended DSTI for the powerful innovation, noting that the opportunity presents them a litmus test to raise the technological profile of their institution.
UNICEF representative present, Andrew T. Sellu said UNICEF Sierra Leone is partnering with DSTI to formally launch the National Drone Corridor Project in Njala University which he described as the First in West Africa.
He said that with regulatory, infrastructure and technical inputs on testing multi-purpose drone prototypes which can perform both aerial imagery and cargo missions, the drone corridor will be used in supporting the Government’s Free Quality School Education Initiative, and to augment and provide accurate data for science work around educational infrastructure, including accurately mapping schools, assess their status and identify their needs.
A memorandum of agreement between Njala University and DSTI was signed and was witnessed by tribal authorities.
