Mr Terfa Timothy Addingi, a 44-year-old craft designer of tractors, ‘specially designed and built in Nigeria’ says ‘with inventors like me, and with supports from government, private sector and investors, Nigeria will become an envy of success like China in few years to come.’ BINTA SHAMA reports
How did you get the motivation for these invention?
Being an indigene of Benue state, with huge farmlands and the passion farmers have always had to produce positive results for consumers, I thought it would help my people who are mostly farmers, increase food productivity for the nation and by extension improve the economy of the nation. This can be done through exporting more of our achievements rather than importing which is one the primary objectives of the President Buhari regime. I was motivated to produce Ijodo Tractor because, I believed I could make low technologies that can reduce the drudgery our farmers go through and increase farm productivity.
Ijodo, being a traditional name in Tiv language, meaning ‘Farm Labourer’. Way back, growing up as a child, I have always had the flare and passion to make things easier and better than the way I met it or the society may deem it fit to be natural. So I try to be more creative in my work at every given opportunity, In this case I was only looking for a way to take away the drudgery of farm task, so I designed and built ijodo to do that.
Comparing your work with imported ones, what would be your judgment?
My products can stand side by side imported ones, because I have the same quality of training their designers have to manufacture this products, since I have their type of machineries. Having my first degree in BA Industrial Design, from Ahmadu Bello University and an MSc in Product Design from Coventry University, UK just to perfect my skills and carefully implement knowledge and talents acquired for my invention.
It was only natural to study this, I was born with a gift for this, even now as a grown-up I believe the Almighty has anointed me to build products that will ease the lives of His people. I will do anything to improve the skill to design and build. Besides in my university education, I have taken many short courses, in many software applications and welding etc just to improve myself not only for a better me nor for my generation, but also for our motherland Nigeria.
How has patronage being and by whom?
Patronage has been very fair, referring to the Holy Book that says “thou shall not despise days of little beginnings” has made me appreciate my maker and helper all the way. I have had over 50 orders so far, but unfortunately it is not a product that can be produced in small quantities or so easily like ‘preparing a meal because you are hungry’, but because it is cost effective. And I can’t hold people’s orders down where there is lack of sufficient funds knowing fully well that people like to purchase the finished products. Most of the time, we humans are impatient and in a hurry to carry out assignments most especially when given a deadline.
And the 50 others have been from private the sector. I would love to partner because I am looking for but have not got any yet.
Has there been any encouragement or support?
Well, I will say from my friends and family who believed in what I was doing and saw its future being bright raised money for me to build the tractor. My family have been close by all the time encouraging me in every aspect and I bless God for all those that have been there for me. But on the other hand, for now there has been no support nor encouragement from the private sector and the government be it federal or state. I say this because I have been to the Ministries of Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, and Agriculture respectively, many times but the response I got has not been encouraging and its giving me a reason to feel like we coming up inventors are not appreciated I may be wrong but, so far, I have not seen anything from them. In same vain, l have had meetings with the Commissioner of Agriculture in Benue state, sent proposals to Plateau state, Ekiti and Nasarawa states, still waiting response.
What has been the challenges faced on the field?
To be candid and out spoken, it has been the issue of sponsorship and partnering, because where private individuals request for these things and they are not visibly available, the company would either be disregarded or incompetent to carry its duty. The problem is such a product can not be built each time someone makes any order, you need a good quantity to guarantee that you can get the need machinery and tools to produce them to the desired standard. People are not willing to have you lock down their orders while you are waiting for more to come in.
I need good support to jump start with the right equipments. Where there are not funds how do workers get paid? And also the real people who are the poor farmers that need tractors cannot afford to buy them. That is why the government subsidies tractors everywhere around the world. It should not be any different in Nigeria.
Any expectation and next line of action?
No knowledge is wasted, it all adds up to the next project, this year, I produced two of the largest art installations in Nigeria in Lagos, the Eko Tree and the Mega Pipe you can look them up on my website.
I have made a measure of investments in bringing the product this far, it is still a work in progress but sometimes I have to leave that and do other things that pays cash.
Having succeeded in building Ijodo, the tractor hasn’t been anywhere near my expectations. But, it has led to other projects that are keeping me busy. Some of my team members are engaged in some of my other projects. I have a team of 7 skilled people, presently doing other things, but I can easily assemble them when there is a project at hand.
I believe more in my capabilities because it is really just scratching the surface of things but I will do as the Lord empowers me. I expect that sometime soon the economy will place a demand on my skill. Put me in a position where I can develop and train youths to design and build needful products locally. All theses are experiences of the Ijodo tractor
Are there words of encouragement?
Oh yes, I wish to encourage as many inventors as myself to keep the faith until something good happens. For me, I aint given up on myself how much more my Maker whom has given me the privilege to make this. I know that with inventors like me, and with supports from Government, Private Sector and Investors, Nigeria will become an envy of success like China in few years to come. I know Nigeria will get better and I believe strongly in this nation.
