The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), on Wednesday hinted that in recognizing the significant impact of Jamilu Tanko’s Cyclone Furnace innovation, of its readiness to support the innovator’s work and ensure that the product reaches its full potential, benefiting industries and communities across Nigeria.
The agency, which discovered this promising talent, stated its eagerness to harness the technology’s potential to boost local industries, particularly in reducing dependency on imported equipment.
According to NASENI, in a world where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, Nigerian physicist, Tanko, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Physics from the same institution, is making strides with a revolutionary innovation set to transform small and medium-scale industries.
It noted that the Cyclone Furnace offered a cost-effective and efficient solution for drying products, with significant implications for sectors like baking, pharmaceuticals, rice mills, paper mills, brick making, and local communities.
The agency expressed optimism that once fully completed, the Cyclone Furnace would be able to dry the same quantity of rice in 10-12 hours, a stark improvement from the 48 hours required by imported furnaces, and revolutionize various industries and improve efficiency nationwide.
Tanko, a Principal Scientist at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute (HEDI) in Kano, which is part of the NASENI, developed the Cyclone Furnace powered by waste materials such as rice husks with a view to significantly enhance productivity and competitiveness in industries reliant on drying processes.
The innovator’s 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.
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
