Many a young people have lost their dreams, while fantasising about their dreams and failing to lift a finger in making it come true. Not so with Vincent Omeje. He had the idea, he fantasised about it and put it to work. All that is left is putting it to the test, a few hurdles, not with standing. He told BLESSING UKEMENA and ONUKOGU KANAYO JUBAL why this ‘dream’ is an undying one.
Just like many of his ilk, there was nothing eye-catching about his appearance. All he had going for him was his ability to speak as few words as possible and darting eyes that ensured no one played with his ‘dream’. In his welding clothes, he cut the picture of a ‘lost, young, man’. But that was entirely the opposite. The few words he spoke belied the busy brain, constantly at work on how to better his lot in life, and “give humanity a gift they will never forget.” He refused saying a word in his work clothes. He wanted to be out of them, if he would talk to us.
In The Beginning??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
He found it difficult to give out any information about him. After a pause, as if wondering why his name and other personal information were being required, he shrugged and let it flow.
“My name is Vincent Omeje, a native of Kogi State, of the Igala tribe. My mother is an Igbo, of the Nsukka tribe of Enugu State. I was born some twenty-something years ago in Nsukka, where I spent most of my childhood.
?“I had my primary education at Alo Primary School, Idah, Kogi State and attended the Community Secondary School, Idagwuani, Nsukka. When I finished, I was admitted into the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi, to study mechanical engineering. I was a 300 level student, but had to drop out of school, because I had some family problems: when I say ‘family problems’, I mean with my father. After then, he decided to stop paying my fees. I could not do otherwise; I had to withdraw. When I withdrew, I took after my dream, step by step, and gradually. See how far I have gone.”
Dream and Inspiration
What dream is this? “Bros, you no dey see this thing wey stand for your back?” He queried. “You see,” he continued, “while I was in primary school, I had this idea, so as I grew up, I kept learning about it and I started to work on building this aircraft gradually.”
How long has he been on this? “Hmm,” he murmured, “For about three years now, but I have been unable to complete it, because I don’t have enough funds to do that.”
Is Vincent working based on a flash of ideas or inspired by things he had seen which complemented his dream?
“No. I am not working only from my head. When I get a mental flash of the design I want, I consult these books (at this point, he reached up to a shelf in his workshop and brought out some magazines, including an edition of the Guinness Book World of Records dedicated to the history of airplanes and other aircraft-related magazines), because they have the different designs I may want at any point in my work. Today, I may decide that I want a separate design for my propeller, passenger seat, the nose or any other part. This is where I will have to look.
“This is something I have always wanted to do and it is what I believe in, that is why I have put all my resources into this project till this time, and as you can see, it is still incomplete, due to insufficient funding.”
Mobility
Does his aircraft work? “Sure, it works. Ask around and you will hear that I do. All I need is just a few touches and some of the right things in the right places and it will become an aircraft and not a groundcraft, as you call it,” he said laughing.
Other Skills?
In the mean, he undertakes a lot of other jobs, thanks to his many talents, so as to feed himself and make his ‘dream’ get better, and look more presentable.
“I do all sorts of other small jobs just to make money, which I still put into my project. I am a welder. I know how to construct charcoal stoves. I also construct electrical gadgets which I design myself. I construct ICs and capacitors, because I know the relay systems invoIved. I do this for people to make ends meet. I help people construct the auto change-over, a device which helps users of generators to change the light source to the PHCN lines without first turning off the generator. These are the little ways through which I make money.”
Making the Craft fly
. . .? and to make the aircraft fly? “First of all, you need a light metal, which I am yet to afford. An aircraft that is heavy cannot fly, so the less the weight of the craft, the easier it overcomes drag and gain enough thrust to fly. In time, I hope to get four cylinder engines. These four engines, working at the same time, increase performance and ensure good jet flow at the back of the craft. These four engines will enable the aircraft achieve sufficient thrust to fly.
“I have not been able to fly this craft, because I am presently using heavy metal and car fuel to drive it around. When it is complete, by God’s grace, it will need this aviation fuel also called Jet-A fuel. It is a higher form of kerosene that aircrafts use to fly.”
So informed is he about his creation that one wonders if he has ever been to any exhibition. Has he? “No, I have not attended any exhibition, because the project is unfinished. I hope the government and well meaning Nigerians can help me out, financially. I won’t mind going for more training to learn more about this. I believe this is God’s gift to me and I can use it for myself and my country.”
Financial Support
As far as financial support is concerned, Vincent has had very little coming his way, and though he would give anything to get some financial assistance, he cannot force anyone’s hand.
“Some people who are aware of this work come around and assist me in their own little way. Some give me N2000, N3000 or N5000. This is not enough to complete the project, as you can see there is still a lot to be done. But I can only give thanks to God.”
Regrets
So far, the young man has no regrets, neither does he blame anyone for his present state.
“I do not regrets following my dreams. I could not continue my education, so this is an opportunity to do what I believe in. I still believe that with time I will reap the fruits of my labour.”
Unless some sort of assistance comes his way so that he can change the body and it’s engine, Vincent’s craft might not see the light of day. Its propeller is made from a combination of fan blades and a tire rim and its wings are too heavy. Is Vincent aware of this?
“You have to understand that this is just a design. When I get the right materials, maybe from a sponsor, I will reform everything. For now, this is more like a draft of my dream. The next stage is to re-create this dream to a reality”.? Vincent will not give up this dream for anything. “No matter where I go or what I do, I will always continue this project, whether I get a sponsor or not,” he emphasised.
Suspicion
Lengthy explanations had to be made to Vincent to let the photographer take pictures of his plane .First, he did not want us to “reap from the fruits of his labour”. Later, he wanted us to meet his mentor, a pastor. Finally, he wanted to be in on “the deal” to know how much would come to him from the “business”. Only when his doubts were dispelled that this was no “business” deal did he let pictures of his craft to be taken.
Why did he do what he did?
“Some time ago,” he began, “some journalists came to me from a magazine (names withheld), and I granted them an interview. Unknown to me, they went to? a man who knows me very well to solicit for funds for me, as they said. He cooperated with them and gave them some financial backing. I was not aware.
“One day, I went to him to seek financial assistance. He thought I was a fraud and walked me out of his office. When I explained, he told me everything. I regretted having granted the interview to those people. Since then , I have become suspicious.
“Now, I just look up to God for my help, not man,” he said.
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