Kamau Gachigi, head of Gearbox, Nairobi’s leading maker space emphasized that technology can help Africa prepare for a doubling of it’s population by 2050 during TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania. Africa needs more engineers and makers with practical digital fabrication labs to help people become more practical and more productive building economies that will sustain it’s population growth.
Citing several young engineers, like Simon Wachira who used lab to create a robotic tool that could cut both metal and wood, which is now creating parts for car giant General Motors and 24-year-old Esther who helped design sanitary towel dispensers which can be put up in schools to avoid the issue of girls missing school when they have their period. Read more