Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 39
Dr. Hassane Idrissa Souley, born in SorbonHaoussa in Niger, is an epistemologist and
inventor. Growing up, he was perplexed
by the unexploited potential of the river
running alongside his village. In 1999,
he created a transformation programme
to valorize the river’s resources for the
community’s food self-sufficiency. He also
created the Nigerian Association for the
Promotion of Invention and Innovation
(Association Nigérienne Pour la Promotion
de l’Invention et de l’Innovation – ANPII),
paving the way for the power of the
collective.
TELL US A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT
YOUR WORK
I wanted to produce ecological energy,
better-adapted and lower in cost, by
using renewable energies – specifically
hydroelectric
dams
and
modular
elements. After 10 years of research, in
1996 I created the first installation in my
village, with funding from the Ministry of
Planning. We used the river to develop
turbining.
WHY IS THIS
DIFFERENT?
Our innovation uses new types of
mobile and modular hydroelectric dams
to exploit river floods. They’re entirely
constructed out of flood water. The dams
produce enough electricity for largescale irrigation, and to cover other local
electricity needs.
ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
DAMS,
FISHING SPOTS
AND EXTENDED IRRIGATION
IN NIGER
WHAT’S NEXT?
We’re now looking at fish farming in the
ponds we’ve created adjacent to the river
– these were initially used for dam testing.
We’re facing ecological challenges
however, as run-off sand often floods in,
making the banks unusable. So, the focus
is on stabilizing and raising the banks, and
on securing, weeding and treating the
ponds and canals.
11 years later, in 2007, I continued my
experimental research by acquiring a
garden located a few meters away from
the river. I equipped it with an innovative
irrigation system, sourced from the
river. Three years later, the results were
outstanding, with plants growing three
to four times faster in my garden than in
other fields.
Within the ANPII community we have a
commitment, with other citizens, to show
that Africa has the intellectual potential
and sufficient resources to meet all
our existential challenges. And we are
working to ensure that Africa’s resources
are judiciously used.
Photo credit: nigerinter.com
SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
Photo credit: nigerinter.com
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