Africa-Press – Lesotho. The National University of Lesotho International Science, Technology and Innovation Conference and Expo (NULISTICE) showed off Basotho’s innovation and research
ideas last week. The National University of Lesotho’s innovation hub hosted an expo to showcase the innovative application of researches within the university and internationally in
addressing economic change. The expo that was reportedly pioneered in 2015 as NUL Expo has been a huge success in response to entrepreneurship and job
creation in the country, giving opportunities for scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs and policy makers to display their products and find a
sustainable market for such. In an interview with Professor Himanshu Narayan from the department of physics and electronics NUL, the main idea behind this expo is to bring Lesotho products
together for the general public to know and to help in the branding of the newly discovered ideas. He explained that the NULISTICE 2020’s theme is Entrepreneurship through innovation and
has been since 2015 due to the concrete plan of fighting unemployment by turning ideas into action. “As NUL’s innovation hub, we believe that instead of
students seeking employment, we have to empower them to create jobs for others”, said the professor when further explaining that an invention of one product opens employment for many people, therefore, slowly developing the
economy. Judging from the rate at which innovation grows, Professor Narayan indicated that there is a possibility of establishment of many local businesses in Lesotho by 2030,
which will by then reduce the rate of unemployment by a large portion. He stated that Lesotho is not different from other parts of the world, thus nothing can block its route to success.
He further indicated that each continent is blessed with its unique wealth and it takes research and innovation for such resources to be effectively used for economic change.
NUL students, lecturers, graduates and local developing businesses brought tangible products, most of which were made from the organic extracts from within the
country. Informative Newspaper talked to a few innovators who stressed on the quality of Lesotho products with a span that has not been affected by shipment or long shelving time in shops.
They said that local skin care products and teas are very effective having been produced from plants and animal rich extracts such as aloe, rose hip, cannabis, bobatsi, peaches, goose berry, carrots, lengana, cactus fruit, honey, waste newspaper and bolepo ba poone, which have many health
benefits such as controlling of arthritis, ulcers, skin problems, diabetes, hypertension and stress, and are very good for bones and kidney diseases. Production of
candies and cleaning substances by chemical engineering students is another part of the expo that left buyers amazed. In their explanation, extracted chemicals can react to finally give useful products for daily use and this ideas
emanate from the lessons in their lectures. In the technology innovation category was the scientific machineries that where invented by NUL students in an attempt to respond to most of our industrial
needs for development. The electronic food dryer for instance, which is used to dry fruits and vegetables for business is a creative move in food preservation.
It eliminates inconveniences due to bad weather and works faster during periods of high demand. Information Technology has also been blessed with the innovation of an Automated Security that works as a monitor in households from
remote areas through a special application on the internet. In an interview with ‘Mafule Pati, the founder of Devine ginger, research and innovation is the best job creating platform that all youth have to take
advantage of. She appealed to the youth that it is high time that they stop depending on the government for employment but create it for others who may not have ideas, but can help with the already existing ideas from others.
