James Momodu Dao Samba, a 20-year-old Sierra Leonean tech-prodigy, and self-taught engineer made a solar-powered wheelchair for persons with disability intending to solve the problems of “unavailable public transportation spaces for the disabled” in his home country of Sierra Leone.
In a Facebook and LinkedIn post that went viral last year November, James’ solar-powered wheelchair is a game-changer for persons with disability in Sierra Leone, a country that still suffers from easy access to public transportation, which many don’t have provisions for disabled persons. James said with this Innovation, it will “ease the strain and pains sustained from the conventional push-ride wheelchairs and hand crutches over long-distance walk.”
As one of the country’s prospects, James had made amazing things from scratch like; FM Radio transmitter, auto-intensity street lights, non-fuel generator, remote control wheelchair, automated handwashing station, and sanitizer dispenser which he created to support the government in the fight against Covid. These sterling innovations by the young prospect have all made significant changes in the fight against global warming, climate change, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The young genius won the 2021 Southern Region Social Good Summit Price of Le 10,000,000 ($880). The Southern Region Social Good Summit Price is an annual youth event organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its partners to search for local solutions to solve problems affecting the youthful population in Africa, and also appreciate and identify young Innovative Africans making a change in their respective countries.
But like many young creatives in Africa who face numerous challenges in their creative lives, James is no exception. In an interview with Salone Messenger, he said a lack of funding is stopping him from purchasing the necessary materials/equipment to work with. He added by saying “90% of all my Innovative solutions are self-funded.” James said he would have to beg money from friends and relatives to purchase the equipment needed to work on his projects. Most of the time, when he couldn’t get money from his friends and relatives, he would have to squeeze from his school allowance to sort things out.
Brief Biography of James Momodu Dao Samba
Born and raised in Pujehun District, Southern Province of Sierra Leone, James Momodu Dao Samba is a Sierra Leonean Innovator, Inventor, self-taught engineer, tech-prodigy, Founder, and Chief Innovation Officer of Wanjama Innovatives. He started his Innovation journey at the age of eight. As many kids would do, James, as a kid started collecting scraps and turned them into mini fans, motor-powered cars and mini helicopters, and many more.
He started school at the Holy Family Primary School in Pujehun, where he attained his primary school education before he could later gain admission to one of the biggest schools in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, Christ The King College (CKC). He did his Junior and Senior Secondary School at CKC. Currently, he’s a student at the Milton Margai Technical University.
Contact James Momodu Dao Samba via WhatsApp on this number +23279555091 of via Facebook here