University of Embu to start an innovation centre

The University of Embu is in the process of establishing an innovation centre to help in supporting new and innovative ideas that will provide solutions to local problems in the community.

The institution plans to partner with the Embu County Government and other stakeholders to establish the multi-million facility would be used to offer training on innovations and research.

According to an official Dr. Milca Nyaga the areas of training will be those of high impact and value to the society in sectors such as agriculture, health, forestry, energy among others.

Residents will also be trained on new innovations to be at par with others across the world, they will also be allowed to benchmark at the centre so as to embrace the ideas in their areas of work.

“There are many creative ideas that need to be developed to major innovations that can be used to solve local problems. This should be the way to go instead of relying on government interventions or foreign aid. This will be our area of focus in the coming months, “she said.

She was speaking during an innovations workshop that was organized by the International Innovation Development Network (IIDN) that brought together farmers, teachers, health practitioners among others where they showcased various innovations that they have developed.

The stakeholders noted on the need for government support saying most brilliant ideas that would make major impacts in the country go unearthed due to financial handicaps.

They called on the government to come up with programmes to help innovators as well as establish more research institutes to help in unearthing such practices.

Joseph Munene of Caritas, the development arm of the Catholic Church, Embu branch that has several research programmes highlighted how some farmers are crushing red pepper and mixing with ash ro kill the fall army worm that has attacked maize, saying it has helped many farmers address the challenge of the pest.

“We have more of these ideas which need to be developed furthers to major innovations that can be used to solve our problem. It is cheaper and affordable to the common man,” he said.

Karl Heinze, a representative from IIDN called on the need for local empowerment instead of looking for foreign governments to solve local problems.

He said through research and innovations, products that are otherwise imported can be made locally.