Emirati boy, 10, addresses global telecom event

Adeeb Al Balushi, known for his inventions, urged 3,000-strong conference to empower youth

• Image Credit: EPA
• Ten-year-old United Arab Emirates (UAE) inventor Adeeb Al Beloushi gestures before addressing the 2014 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Conference in Busan, South Korea, 21 October 2014.

Dubai: A 10-year-old Emirati inventor has addressed an audience of 3,000 international delegates at a telecom conference in South Korea — making him its youngest participant.

Adeeb Al Beloushi on Wednesday called on the Plenipotentiary Conference, organised in Busan by the International Telecommunication Union, to support youngsters in digital and communication technology development.

The young boy has invented a number of devices, including a car seat belt heart monitor, cleaning robot and lightweight prosthetic limbs.

On Wednesday, Adeeb said: “On behalf of young people around the world, I ask you to listen to the voice of young people and engage them in setting ICT policies and related services.

“I must point out that many young people around the world do not have the opportunity to get a proper education and suffer from lack of infrastructure and necessary empowering tools they need to be able to participate and engage in the development process.

These children are counting on the efforts of the International Telecommunication Union to enable them to use their skills and talents in the serving their communities.”

Adeeb received a “warm applause” from the audience and the family was the “centre of attention” at the event, a statement said.Flanked by his family, he accompanied the delegation of the UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) to the conference.

TRA Director-General Mohammad Al Ganem cut short his speech to allow Adeeb to speak.