Driving IoT Inclusive solution in Nigeria

As Taslim Saludeen would say: “Its one thing to think Innovatively. Its another to be an executor of an Innovative Concept. Its yet another thing to maintain and grow the executed Innovative Concept.To master this three (3) things one need to learn the act of managing human resources.”

When Taslim Saludeen geared up to introducing UpNepa it was just like what one would see in any Hollywood movie. Then, the awareness around IoT has not been so high. Thanks to Microsoft, IBM and UpNepa who have brought Nigerians closer to understanding the important role IoT plays in globalization and industrialization. But first, what is IoT? What is UpNepa? How does the IoT help in achieving industrialization and globalization? How can this be deployed in Nigerian Economic Sectors?

IoT, An Overview

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet, collecting and sharing data. Thanks to cheap processors and wireless networks, it’s possible to turn anything, from a pill to an aeroplane to a self-driving car into part of the IoT.—Zedge: August 21, 2018.

Wikipedia defines the Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

In a nutshell, the Internet of Things is the concept of connecting any device (so long as it has an on/off switch) to the Internet and to other connected devices. The IoT is a giant network of connected things and people —all of which collect and share data about the way they are used and about the environment around them.

That includes an extraordinary number of objects of all shapes and sizes?—?from smart microwaves, which automatically cook your food for the right length of time, to self-driving cars, whose complex sensors detect objects in their path, to wearable fitness devices that measure your heart rate and the number of steps you’ve taken that day, then use that information to suggest exercise plans tailored to you. There are even connected footballs that can track how far and fast they are thrown and record those statistics via an app for future training purposes.—IBM: November 17, 2016.

Benefits of IoT

Some benefits of IoT include:
— IoT can help make sense of the raw data produced every minute by the thousands of connected things that make up your business, supply chain and products.
— IoT can improve resource efficiency, reduce pollution and stimulate new thinking and innovation.

Heard of UpNepa?

We all get excited when the electric power is restored to our homes. We all remember shouting: “Up Nepa!”. Well, that’s the spirit. Nigeria has been struggling with producing steady power supply since inception. Now, UpNepa is a service aimed at notifying and updating users of the state of electricity supply(ON or OFF) in a selected location. Founded in Jan 10, 2017 it’s founders Salaudeen Abdulrahman,and Salaudeen Taslim came up with this innovative idea. The company’s IPO is Private.

Upnepa Nigeria is an analytics platform which has the ability to inform you on the hours of light and darkness of local communities in Nigeria. The mission at Upnepa, is to monitor, aggregate, and analyse power supply, power outages and power distribution in order to improve productivity in young people and students, provide power supply rates insight for SMEs, and foresights for governmental institutions, energy distribution companies and energy solution projects. Upnepa believes that with data, information and forecast on the electricity status at homes, universities, communities, and cities, people and authorities will be able to plan better and make sustainable decisions, save cost on research and development, as well as have higher productivity.

Deploying IoT using Upnepa’s Inclusive Solution Strategy

Driving IoT inclusive solution in Nigeria as a startup is quite difficult. But little by little they’re pushing through and making their dream a reality. They’ve successfully monitored, aggregated and analysed power supply stability across 3 pilot communities in Akure, leveraging on IoT technology for real time data collection, basic analytic tool for deriving basic insight and GIS tools for spatial information.

According to Upnepa they look forward to providing accurate data about Nigerian communities which would provide real-time information on their level of power deficiency (level of pain), level of financial capability (what solution they can afford) and total estimated number of houses and people living within each community (potential customers).

Taslim believes the data they mine and information they would provide, which cannot be found by searching Google or any online database in Africa, would help more startup and companies in the energy space with more insight on the exact type of energy solution needed by a community, if an average inhabitant of such community can afford it and the best point to locate their distribution outlet within community of interest. This would increase energy solution design and distribution.

Bonus

Here’re some data excerpts released by UpNepa as of October 2019.