The University of Buea students of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) have showcased a machine they have manufactured, as part of their training, to help peel large amounts of what is commonly called Egusi.
These melon seeds, Egusi, are very instrumental in making soups and puddings in Cameroon.
However, having a substantial quantity of peeled Egusi is very costly, given that they are peeled manually through a time-consuming process.
The FET students say the new machine will not only help in the mass peeling of egusi but will also ensure hygiene and sanitation in the way it is handled.
The innovation was one of several ingenious products showcased by FET students during the faculty’s “Industrial Forum” that was held in Buea on Thursday, Nov. 30.
Ketu Princely, a student of mechanical manufacturing, presented the machine on behalf of his crew.
He said that if harnessed, the machine will contribute to a drastic drop in the price of peeled egusi in the market.
Given that it is done manually, peeled Egusi is currently sold at FCFA 500 per glass, as compared to the unpeeled, which is sold at about FCFA 150 per glass.
“The manual method is so slow that people don’t meet the demand for Egusi in the market,” said Ketu Princely.
He further explained the rationale behind the machine, stating, “And the manual method is stressful. The manual method is also inhygienic because people can peel Egusi with contaminated hands and the end consumer will be affected. and the manual method has led to an increase in the price of Egusi in the market because if you stress to do something, you must sell it at an expensive price to gain something.
“So this machine helps to reduce the price of Egusi in the market and also to increase the amount of Egusi in the market,” he noted.
At the moment, the machine does not separate the egusi from the peelings after it has been peeled.
Ketu said their next plan is to attach a fan to the machine that will separate the peelings from the seed.
He and his team members showcased the innovation to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, and the FET Dean, Prof. Dieudonne Agbor.
Both officials marvelled at the output of their students, with the Vice Chancellor taking pride in the skill-based curriculum of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.
Yesterday’s Industrial Forum also commemorated the 13th anniversary of FET, one of the eight faculties that make up the University of Buea.
The event was themed, “FET after 13 years: Time for feedback on employability, training approaches, and expected skills.”
The Faculty’s Dean, Prof. Dieudonne Agbor, said UB is going to create an incubation centre to ensure that projects like the Egusi peeling machine do not end “only in our labs or in our practical workshops, but that (they) will now go out to be applied.”
“Most of those projects are solving, giving solutions to some local needs… So, we think that, with this incubation centre, we’re going to continue the process to develop those projects, to finish projects that can be used by society,” he said.
