Nigerian graduate reshapes nighttime food vending with solar-powered kiosks
Nigerian graduate Usman Dalhatu has unveiled solar-powered kiosks tailored for nighttime operations to help food vendors serve their customers after sunset.
These innovative kiosks, a brainchild of Dalhatu, have swiftly become a common sight in fast-food hotspots across Northern Nigeria, replacing noisy and polluting generators previously relied upon by vendors to keep their businesses running after dark in a nation known for its frequent power outages.
Dalhatu, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, had already demonstrated his knack for innovation during his sophomore year with an emergency ventilator concept, which he later evolved into a portable automatic ventilator.
Explaining the inspiration behind his latest creation, Dalhatu is quoted by Vanguard Nigeria saying, "The idea came to me when I saw a vendor struggling to work at night. I knew there had to be a better, more sustainable solution."
His solar-powered kiosks, marketed under his company Dalsman Tech, dubbed the iCart Solution, cater to a variety of fast food items, ranging from noodles and snacks to fried eggs and beverages, serving both travellers and local customers alike.
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Describing the iCart Solution, Dalhatu stated, "It's a movable cart used for making fast food and snacks in streets and campuses."
The kiosk boasts features like an inverter battery, cooking stove, portable desk, and even a television for entertainment, along with compartments for food storage.
The young inventor remarked that the kiosks are constructed using locally sourced materials, with each prototype taking just five days to complete.
He added that the inclusion of a solar panel enables the kiosks to operate on renewable energy, aligning with eco-friendly initiatives.
The emergence of Dalhatu's invention adds to a growing list of Nigerian innovators making waves on the global stage. Notably, four Nigerian teenage girls who made headlines with their invention of urine-powered generators, addressing the nation's chronic power outages.
Meanwhile, Mustapha Gajibo, another young inventor from Nigeria, has been tackling urban mass transit challenges by spearheading a homegrown electric vehicle industry in the northeastern region of the country.
In response to these innovative strides, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government announced plans in March to bolster the country's Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) ecosystem, positioning Nigeria as a frontrunner in Africa's innovation revolution.
