An Ethiopian university lecturer who successfully assembled a drone using local materials has told the BBC that he has a bigger vision.
Amanuel Balcha is a mechanical engineer who worked for local company Dejen Aviation before joining Dembi Dolo University as a lecturer.
On Tuesday he conducted a successful flight of his locally assembled drone during the university’s innovation day.
He told the BBC that he has assembled two other drones and an aircraft that are on trial stage.
He says this is not his final ambition as he can “make greater things than this… This is just paving my way for my vision”.
He says his final goal “is to build my own aircraft with a capacity of carrying two passengers”.
“I’ll make my dream come true and make my university proud soon,” he adds.
Mr Amanuel is planning to use the drones he is assembling locally for video recording, disaster aid and for environmental protection purposes.
For days, he has been trending on social media after he successfully did a test flight of his drone on Tuesday.
He is now being praised and appreciated by many people including top government officials.
Dembi Dolo University is located in western Oromia where anti-government armed groups are active.
Source: bbc.com