Featured, Oil & Gas
By Anthony Isibor
WHEN the NLNG announced Prof Hipolite Amadi as the winner of the Nigerian Prize for Science in 2023, it was not just about the disbursement of the $100,000 cash prize, rather, it was more about reducing the number of infant deaths in the country by at least 50 per cent.
The Professor of Medical Engineering and Technology, Amadi had told Realnews that his major objective was not stardom, but to report a very crucial problem of abnormally high death rate of newborn babies in Nigeria.
With his invention, Polite Heart Sea Park, the Polite Oxygen Blendand the Polite Oxygen SplitaSystem, the Professor hopes to see a drastic reduction in infant mortality rate in the country as well as provide the same service at very minimal cost.
As at the time of the award in 2023, the Polite Heart Sea Park, was already being used in some hospitals across the country and was sold for N750,000 as against N6.5 million, which was the cost of similar products imported from outside the country.
This year, the NLNG, announced the “Process Intensification Technology for Green House Gas Emissions Control in Power Generation and Industry for Sustainable Fuel” as the winner of the Prize for Science.
The technology, which was produced by Eni Okoh, Oladijo Otitoju and Prof. Weihang Wang, was selected from 51 other submissions approved by the Prize Advisory Board.
This year’s prize focused on innovation and science for reducing Climate Change and will be directly beneficial in reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.
Announcing the winner of the prize in Lagos, Prof. Berth Nnaji, Chairman of the Prize Advisory Board, stated that it is expected that the innovation, which is in line with the global climate goals will help reduce Carbon Emission in the country and further Nigeria’s drive towards the net zero target.
Over the years, the prize has not only highlighted groundbreaking scientific achievements, but also fostered a culture of innovation and research within the country.
“Talk about impact, NLNG is a primary example Funke Egbomode, a seasoned journalist, and a former commissioner for Information in Osun state, described NLNG’s focus and drive towards solving various pressing problems around the environment, society, health and climate.
With a yearly cash prize, which has increased over time to $100,000,the prize stands as Africa’s most prestigious science awards and has evolved over the years,
Since 2004, the NLNG Limited embarked on a journey to reshape Nigeria’s scientific landscape through the Nigerian Prize for Science.
As the prize marks 20 years since it was initiated, Andy Odey, General Manager, External Relations of the NLNG, reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment towards the development of economic growth by promoting innovation in science and honing talents in literature, contributing to the nation’s development by pioneering scientific innovations that addresses topical challenges in the society, while the company’s commitment to advancing science, technology, and innovation as critical pillars for national development has remained unwavering.
The Prize for Science, for example, was established to encourage Nigerian scientists to direct their efforts toward producing innovative solutions to Nigeria’s developmental needs, thereby moving the country from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one.
Over the last 20 years, NLNG’s Nigerian Prize for Science has not only recognized the potential of Nigerian scientists, but also provided them with a platform to shape the nation’s future through groundbreaking innovation.
As the world moves toward a more technology-driven economy, Nigeria’s position in the global scientific community will largely depend on the kind of innovation the country can bring to the table, and the Nigerian Prize for Science is already steering that course.
The Prize is unique in that each year’s theme revolves around solving key challenges that Nigeria faces. This approach ensures that the research being celebrated and rewarded has direct relevance to national development. Themes have ranged from “Innovations in Malaria Control” to “Sustainable Food Security” and “Climate Change Adaptation.”
For instance, in 2007, its focus was on Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development. With Nigeria facing significant energy challenges, particularly in rural areas with limited access to electricity, the Prize brought national attention to the need for sustainable energy solutions.
The Prize that year was awarded to Professor Akintunde Ibitoye and his team for their work in solar energy innovation. Their research provided scalable, low-cost solar solutions that could be implemented in rural areas, helping to bridge Nigeria’s energy gap.
Highlighting the significance of the Prize, Professor Ibitoye said: “The Nigerian Prize for Science gave us the platform and resources to push our renewable energy research further. Solar energy is a crucial solution for Nigeria’s rural areas, and this recognition has made it possible for us to scale our efforts.”
In 2017, the theme was around Tackling Health Crises, focusing on Innovations in Malaria Control, a theme directly aligned with one of Nigeria’s most persistent health challenges.
The Prize was awarded to Dr. Joel Akintoye and his team for their development of novel anti-malarial compounds. Their research provided a significant breakthrough in addressing drug-resistant strains of malaria, which had become a growing concern across sub-Saharan Africa. The recognition not only advanced the research, but also attracted international interest, leading to collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions across Africa.
Upon receiving the award, Dr. Akintoye was quoted as saying that “Malaria has plagued Nigeria for generations. This prize has given our research the visibility and support it needed to potentially save millions of lives. We can now push for clinical trials and broader applications of our findings.”
In 2012, it focused on Climate Resilience and addressed the issue of Sustainable Food Security in an era of climate change.
The Prize was awarded to Professor Ben Onwuka for his pioneering work on developing climate-resilient crops. His research focused on creating high-yield crops that could withstand extreme weather conditions, providing a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s food security crisis.
Professor Onwuka’s innovations were directly applicable to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as drought and flooding. His work has since been adopted by several agricultural institutions, benefiting farmers across the country.
According to Professor Onwuka, “The Nigerian Prize for Science showed that agriculture and science must work hand in hand. The recognition helped us secure further funding for research, and today, our resilient crops are being used by farmers in multiple states, improving food security.”
In 2019, the Nigerian Prize for Science tackled the growing environmental challenges by focusing on Climate Change Adaptation and Dr. Kemi Amodu and her team were awarded the Prize for their research on innovative waste-to-energy technologies. Their work was renowned for transformed agricultural waste into biofuels, providing a renewable energy source while reducing environmental pollution.
Dr. Amodu said that winning the prize helped further her research and opened doors for them both locally and internationally. “It showed that Nigerian scientists can lead in finding green solutions to environmental issues, and it allowed us to scale our work and partner with more industries.”
According to her, the prize has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation in Nigeria, particularly among younger scientists. By focusing on themes of national importance and providing significant financial incentives, the prize has encouraged a generation of Nigerian scientists to focus on applied research that has practical, measurable impacts.
As Nigeria looks ahead, the NLNG and the Nigerian Prize for Science will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of driving the country’s scientific advancement and expanding the frontiers of innovation across Africa.
As NLNG celebrates 20 years of uninterrupted innovative achievements through the prize, Andy Odeh revealed that both the prize for Science and the prize for Literature had received 3000 entries. The prize for Literature has had 18 winners in 20 years, while the prize for Science has had 19 winners.
He noted that sustained by skill, passion, and integrity, the prize has become a beacon of hope, especially in an era where scientific advancement is crucial for development, and has brought to the forefront the immense talents and creativity of Nigerians.
A.I
Oct. 7, 2024
Tags: Andy Odeh Nigerian LNG Prof Hipolite Amadi
