By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has uncovered a Nigerian physicist, Mr. Jamilu Tanko even as the agency says his revolutionary innovation when completed will transform small and medium-scale industries in the country.
His invention, the Cyclone Furnace, offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for drying products, with significant implications for sectors like baking, pharmaceuticals, rice mills, papermills, brickmaking, and local communities, NASENI, added.
Tanko, a Principal Scientist at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute (HEDI) in Kano, which is part of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), developed the Cyclone Furnace powered by waste materials such as rice husks.
The innovation is poised to significantly enhance productivity and competitiveness in industries reliant on drying processes.
NASENI, which discovered this promising talent, is eager to harness Tanko’s ingenuity, even as NASENI said that it recognizes the potential of this technology to boost local industries, particularly in reducing dependency on imported equipment.
Tanko, who hails from Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Kaduna State and is currently pursuing a PhD in Physics from the same institution.
His passion for developing more efficient heating equipment like furnaces and boilers, which he saw as underutilized by local industries, led him to embark on the development of the Cyclone Furnace in 2023.
Once fully completed, Tanko’s Cyclone Furnace will be able to dry the same quantity of rice in 10-12 hours, a stark improvement from the 48 hours required by imported furnaces. A member of the Nigeria Institute of Physics, Tanko’s innovation is expected to revolutionize various industries and improve efficiency nationwide.
NASENI, said that it recognizes the significant impact of this innovation, expressing readiness to support Tanko’s work and ensure that the Cyclone Furnace reaches its full potential, benefiting industries and communities across Nigeria.
Established by Decree No. 33 of 1992 as a first-stop government institution for technology development in Nigeria, NASENI’s primary target is to empower Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) through impartation of technologies, engineering principles and practices for the production of equipment that will meet international standards as well as sustenance of flourishing local capital goods or industry.