The African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, says it has produced bamboo bicycles to improve the quality of life among communities.

Coordinator, Materials Science and Engineering in the university, Prof. Peter Onwualu, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeriaon Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, bamboo bicycles have been designed and built as part of the interdisciplinary business and innovation programme.

He said designing of bamboo bicycles was one of the technologies currently ready for commercialisation.

He said the institution was ready to partner with any capable investor that would be ready to mass-produce the products for the benefits of the citizens and the rest of the world.

Besides, he said, AUST had also developed ceramic water filters for the production of potable water in rural and urban communities.

He said the technology could be used to treat water and make it fit for drinking.

"Both our students and faculty understand that the purpose of scientific research is to make meaningful contributions to our civilisation and to offer solutions to real-life problems.

"As a result, some of the work done by our students, even at the Master's level, has produced technologies which can be used to improve the quality of life among our communities.

"The bamboo bicycle, and ceramic tile water filters, conceptualised, designed and produced at AUST, using local materials, are typical examples,'' he said.

AUST is a Pan-African institution, established in 2007 in response to a request from several African Heads of State, to give life to a request made by then President Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

The World Bank and the African Union are working together to create strong Pan-African centres of excellence to improve sub-Saharan Africa's capacity in science and technology

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