The National University of Lesotho is creating an exciting atmosphere in the Roma valley through its ground breaking innovation hub. This is one of the ways of changing the face of the university from what it has always been known for.
The University’s Innovation Hub currently has 17 businesses from manufacturing, information and communication technology, tile and brick making as well as food processing.
Research and Innovation Officer, Motlatsi Ketsi has explained that their strong point was conducting research before making anything that could be sold. For example, he said in baking of biscuits and Muesli which are made from sorghum, they avoided wheat because it has gluten which is known as a cancer causing element in food.
“We want to expand our innovation hub so that we can have at least 30 more people. Currently we have 17 people in manufacturing of tiles, artificial stones, biscuit baking, meat processing and production of yoghurt,” he said adding that their tiles are durable and hard.
He said they have named their products in Sesotho to show that Sesotho could also be used in innovation, citing names such as Sebabatso yoghurt, Bohlokoa Muesli and Khuisa food for children. Ketsi also added that the hub has produced, amongst others, computer software that could detect cancer in the body, digital sign language software and gate access control software.
“We have manufactured soap which is made of natural oils from palm tree and we have also created a pot that can protect food from rotting and can control the temperature of food,” he said.
He also pointed out that they were busy building financial shelves for Basotho business people and were in the process of creating Roma “city” through a collaboration between the university and the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC). Their mission is to create jobs for NUL graduates and also involve them in setting up businesses.
Meanwhile the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology Thesele Maseribane handed over 34 computers to the NUL innovation hub to be used for research this week.
For more information please check out NUL research and Innovations on Facebook and www.nulinnovations.co.ls
