The Minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, has promised government support to a 13-year-old boy from Kibaigwa, Dodoma, whose remarkable talent in road and bridge construction has caught national attention.
Ridhiwani Martin Asheri, a young innovator who builds miniature models of roads and bridges at home using local materials, met with Minister Ulega on Saturday, July 20, 2025, at the Ministry’s sub-offices in Dar es Salaam. He was accompanied by his family.
Minister Ulega praised the young boy’s creativity and technical ability, saying Ridhiwani represents the future of Tanzania’s engineering sector.
He pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Education to identify an appropriate academic path that would nurture and strengthen his skills.
“This is not just a gift; it’s a national asset,” said Ulega. “Our responsibility is to ensure this young talent is guided, supported, and provided with the right environment to thrive. We want to see him become one of Tanzania’s top engineers.”he added
The Minister added that the government is committed to identifying and promoting young talents across all sectors as part of its long-term strategy to build local capacity in science, technology, and infrastructure development.
To inspire the young innovator further, Minister Ulega organized a special tour for Ridhiwani to visit major engineering landmarks in Dar es Salaam some of which the boy had only seen on television.
The tour included the Kijazi Interchange in Ubungo, the iconic Tanzanite Bridge, and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) central station at Posta.
“These are the kinds of structures he dreams of building one day,” Ulega said. “Now he has seen them up close.”
The visit left a lasting impression on Ridhiwani, who described the experience as a dream come true. His family expressed gratitude to the Minister for the rare opportunity and the government's commitment to developing young talent.
Ridhiwani’s story has inspired many Tanzanians online, with calls for more investment in science and engineering education for children who demonstrate early potential.
The Ministry of Works said it will continue to follow up on Ridhiwani’s progress and explore ways to integrate him into programs designed for gifted and talented youth.