The Nigerian man who pivoted the design of Chevrolet Volt, a state-of-the-earth Electric Car for General Motors is in the news again.
Jelani Aliyu is the brainchild behind of Nigeria’s first locally solar-powered laptop that is powerful, rugged, verstaile and drable , with the ability to take harash conditions of any environment.
Ecosahel Group, a company headed by the automotive/industrial designer and technology entrepreneur, Jelani , which is committed to providing effective creative technologies that will make the lives of Nigerians easier, intelligent technologies that are in tune with the nation’s environment, are energized by it and perform efficiently are makers of the laptops.
Aliyu explained the commitment of his company towards progressive technologies that blend with the nation’s environment: “Our future lies not in technologies and systems that are incompatible with our cultures and climate; our future lies in solar energy. The sooner we, as individuals, researchers, institutions, entrepreneurs and leaders, adopt this free and clean power source, the earlier we shall be self-sufficient in energy to power our lives, cities, farms and industries.”
He said that the SOL solar-powered laptop gets its power directly from the sun, and hence does not need to be plugged in, enabling study, work and communication from anywhere.
“Our country is blessed with abundant sunlight, and EcoSahel believes it is only logical that we leverage this power source to power our lives. The SOL is set to be one of the most significant products in Nigeria; it is both a laptop and a power generator,” Aliyu said.
The SOL is a powerful tool that has the capability to enable Nigeria to accelerate its development by giving computing and communication access to anyone anywhere. No longer tied to an electrical grid, or hampered by interrupted power supply, one can work with the SOL from anywhere. This highly capable laptop comes fully loaded with productivity and creative tools.
Given the abundant sunshine across the different climes of Nigeria, EcoSahel hopes that the SOL solar-powered laptop will improve the lives of Nigerians.
Nigeria produces about 4,000 megawatts of electricity mostly from hydro- and gas-powered plants and has been unable to meet the energy needs of its citizens necessary for economic and social development.
Also, it has been slow if not reluctant in embracing alternative sources of renewable energy like solar. Most efforts at harnessing the sun’s abundant and renewable energy have come from private entities like EcoSahel.
Aliyu was born and raised in Nigeria. He hails from Sokoto State and beams with pride at the thought of his homeland.
He first studied Architecture, the closest thing to car designing in Nigeria at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic. He later enrolled at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan where he studied Transportation Design. Upon graduation from the College for Creative Studies, Aliyu obtained a position with General Motors, where he worked at the GM Tech Centre for about three years and then an international assignment took him to Germany for nearly two years to work at Opel.
After his tenure at Opel, Jelani returned to the GM Tech Center, where he came up with the design for the Chevrolet Volt Electric Car, a vehicle that is crucial not just to GM but to the whole industry and world in general.
Clarification: We,EcoSahel are not the developers of the SOL Solar – Powered Laptop, it comes from WeWi Telecommunications. EcoSahel imports and distributes the SOL in Nigeria. EcoSahel is committed to Nigerian progress through technology and creative systems. We believe the utilization of solar energy is the answer to our nation’s energy challenges.