Mwinyi Abdi, a 23-year-old resident of Makoko’s 11th Street, envisions a future where Tanga becomes a Fab City, a hub of fabrication and technological innovation in Tanzania. “One of my biggest dreams is to make Tanga a Fab City. A Fab City where most of the fabrications happening in the country originate from Tanga, producing various items that have an impact in different areas. That is one of my dreams for Tanga in the next five years.”
A graduate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Mwinyi’s path took a transformative turn when he discovered an opportunity to learn about fabrication, programming, and coding through the TangaYetu program. Under the guidance of Shaukat Ali, an instructor from Robotech Labs who held evening sessions at VETA Tanga, Mwinyi and his peers were introduced to the world of technology and innovation.
“One of my fondest memories was when opportunities were announced to learn about fabrications, technology, programming, and coding. We were taught by our teacher, Shaukat Ali, who used to visit us at VETA Tanga during evening sessions. During that time, we learned a lot from him, and the knowledge he imparted continues to help me to this day.”
At Robotech Labs, Mwinyi has been involved in various pioneering projects that blend creativity with technical expertise. One of his proudest achievements includes contributing to the development of STEM learning tools for the STEM Park in Dodoma. “One of the projects I’m proud of is the innovations we worked on for the STEM Park in Dodoma. STEM Parks are science learning centers for children, designed to provide various educational opportunities. Among the projects we created are the Bim Balance and Throw Balls, designed to help children develop coordination and physical fitness.”
Beyond STEM education, Mwinyi has also worked on assembling electric Bajaj, integrating charging systems to make them more fuel-efficient. “This electric Bajaj includes a charging system, making it more fuel-efficient.” His expertise extends to computer-aided furniture design, where he and his team use digital tools to craft innovative furniture pieces. These experiences have deepened his skills and strengthened his commitment to staying in Tanga to drive technological progress.
Mwinyi believes that Tanga’s future lies in expanding technical training opportunities, particularly at institutions like VETA Tanga.
“If given the opportunity to shape the future of Tanga, I would focus on enhancing skills training in places like VETA Tanga, where various technical skills are offered to advance technological progress. Technology is rapidly transforming the world, and it’s the fastest-growing sector. Therefore, we should prioritize technology and the skills we acquire to ensure Tanga’s future development.”
For visitors exploring Tanga for the first time, Mwinyi’s first stop would be Robotech Labs. “For any visitor coming to Tanga for the first time, I would bring them to Robotech Labs because of the exciting fabrications happening here. The technology we work on and the products we create in Tanga are unique. I would first bring them to Robotech Labs to excite them and make them believe that there are things available in Tanga that cannot be found in Dodoma or Mwanza.”
Mwinyi Abdi’s story is a powerful reminder of how access to education, mentorship, and innovation hubs can unlock potential and drive meaningful change. His dream of transforming Tanga into a Fab City is no longer just an aspiration, it’s a vision in motion.