Abdoulaziz Kountché, founder of Drone Africa Service, began a drone business in Niger 10 years ago.
The entrepreneur and grandson of General and former Nigerien leader Seyni Kountché designs drones which are used by companies for a variety of tasks and is hoping to soon be able to transport medicines.
In a statement released by Kountché, on the importance of the drones, the drones are dedicated to mapping, particularly in the context of risk and flood management, but also for agriculture, and transporting objects eventually.
Kountché noted although the drones are designed and created in Niger’s capital Niamey, some of the hi-tech materials, such as cameras, are imported.
Everything that makes the drone operational such as the models, the drawings, the plans are designed in Niger.
While addressing the issue of terrorism and insurgencies in Africa, he stated the importance of drones in monitoring terrorists.
Insurgents have conducted deadly raids in the Sahel for the last few years and drones have made it possible to monitor remote areas, where international organizations can’t always get to.
Drone Africa Service is also designing drones for companies in Mali, Benin and Burkina Faso.
The innovator’s ambition is to train more designers and to create a Drone Academy this year.