By Dikachi Franklin, in Owerri
Amulti-million naira factory plant for the production of electronic accessories for radio, television and other related equipment is being planned for set up in Imo State.
The factory site is at Nguru in Aboh Mbaise local government area along the popular Owerri-Umuahia road.
Damian Anyanwu, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the electronics accessories manufacturing company said the manufacturing plant would also train Nigerians in various fields of human endeavour.
The firm, according to Anyanwu, would help to stem the rising unemployment in the state as many graduates in the field of engineering and other disciplines will be employed.
Anyanwu, who built an FM radio station but now not in operation said that the factory, when fully operational, would help Nigerians save scarce foreign exchange used to procure radio, television and other related accessories as well as broadcast equipment as there would be no need to travel to Europe, America or the Asian Tigers for such equipment.
Anyanwu also informed that the rush to purchase electronics parts by African countries from European countries would be drastically reduced as soon as the factory goes into optimal manufacturing.
He further disclosed that he would also establish such factories in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna so as to reach some companies that would need the services.
Hr informed that in an attempt to assist him advance his knowledge in his chosen career, the then Imo State government sent him to Aba Trade Center now in Abia State, while the Federal Government of Nigeria later sent him to study at the University of Nigeria Nsukka
In 1983, Anyanwu was given a national honour, Member of the Order of Niger (MON), by President Shehu Shagari for making Nigeria proud through his researches and invention.
Damian Anyanwu later traveled to the United States of America where he established “Ikelly Research Centre” in New Jersey. The centre attracted the attention of US Government that collaborated with him in his research endeavours.
The former American President, George Bush also gave him an Award of Excellence on Scientific Research. He described him as a “Man of Extra Ordinary Ability”.
His inventions attracted the mass media in 1978, the Daily Sketch newspaper, based in Ibadan reported Anyanwu’s inventions .This report also attracted the research department of the Furra Bay University, Sierra Leone which later visited him. This was followed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and other media organizations across the globe, he disclosed.
