Development of a Solar Photovoltaic Vulcanizing Machine towards Extreme Poverty Eradication in Africa
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The number of African families living in extreme poverty has continued to increase even though the proportion of the citizens in such situation in this region declined in recent years. This is traceable to unemployment, underemployment, and income inequalities that have generated social unrest as joblessness persist. However, entrepreneurship through small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) has the capacity to drive economic growth and national development through job creation, income empowerment, and poverty eradication. Roadside vulcanizing business in towns and cities of Africa is a viable job that can be run by any age group and it requires no formal training or long apprenticeship to develop expertise. Unfortunately, the cost of running the fossil fuel-powered vulcanizing machine will leave the technician with little or no profit due to the recent fuel subsidy removal by some countries like Nigeria. In addition, overdependence on fossil fuel as a primary source of energy promotes the negative effects of carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions on environment, climate, and public health. In this paper, considering the abundant solar energy potential across all the Sub-Saharan countries, we designed and constructed a solar photovoltaic vulcanizing machine as a practical means of eradicating extreme poverty in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. The implementation of this project will create employment opportunities for millions of Africans, reduce social violence and crime, provide affordable and clean energy, and save our planet.
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T Technology (General), TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering