Prof Peter Ngene, 2018 Prize Winner and Prof Hipolite Amadi, 2023 Prize Winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science of the Nigeria LNG Limited
From all ramifications, ‘The Nigeria Prize for Science’, a strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of the Nigeria LNG Limited has roundly been described as a system that is fostering solutions that address national and international challenges.
The Nigeria Prize for Science is worth $100,000 and it is annually sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as part of its CSR.
Besides, the Prize clearly celebrates excellence in scientific breakthroughs and honours scientists from anywhere in the world, who help find solutions to a local or ‘Nigerian’ problem, as defined and advertised by the Advisory Board for the prize.
Business Hilights recalls that the Prize is an annual prize aimed at stimulating the advancement and application of science and technology. It is expected that the quest for a prestigious prize in science will improve science and technology in Nigeria, resolve issues that are germane to development of the country and help improve the standards of living.
The prize is administered on behalf of Nigeria LNG Limited by the Advisory Board for Science. The current Advisory Board is chaired by Professor Barth Nnaji, internationally-acclaimed professor of robotics, Nigeria’s former Minister of Science and Technology, and former Minister of Power. Other members of the Board are Chief Dr. Nike Akande, a two-time minister and former President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Professor Yusuf Abubakar, a professor of Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics and the Coordinator of the Agriculture Group, R & D Standing Committee, at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
How It Works:
When an entry has been found worthy of winning the Prize, the name of the winner (s) is announced in a Press Conference in September, and the winner(s) is rewarded in a Grand Award Ceremony in Octoberevrry year.
Looking Back At 2018 and 2023 Winners
No doubt, there had been yearly winners of the Prize, these two years (2-18 & 2023); winners and their research works were spectacular and have added unprecedented values to humanity and Nigeria in particular.
Whereas the one of 2018, by Prof Peter Ngene dealt on ‘storage of electric power from the renewable energy sources and from explosion prevention in high voltage power transformers’, that of 2023 by Prof Amadi centered ‘on respiratory technologies for keeping Nigerian new-born babies alive’.
Prof Peter Ngene, 2018 Prize Winner
Dr. Peter Ngene is Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at the Debye Institute of Nanomaterials Science at the Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands. His work “Nanostructured Metal Hydrides for the storage of electric power from the renewable energy sources and from explosion prevention in high voltage power transformers” was described as a “evolutionary” and likely to help solve the problem of blackout in Nigeria.
His research has been useful in storing generated electric power for future use and when in need than allowing scare resource like power to be wasted.
Whereas Nigeria is in the process of using the technology, other parts of the world where power is scare are adopting the technology for the good of their societies.
Prof Ngene was the 2018 Nigeria Prize for Science winner.
He is the recipient of the Van Akel Best PHD thesis Award in 2013. He was also recently recognised as the African Leading Young Scientist with the award of Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Fellowship by the Chairman of African Union, His Excellency, Paul Kegame.
Prof Hippolite Amadi, 2023 Prize Winner
Whereas the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Science announced a novel scientific work on respiratory technologies for keeping Nigerian new-born babies alive by Professor Hippolite Amadi as the winner of the 2023 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Science few years back, the latest good news on the research work now in Nigeria is that not less than four major hospitals across Nigeria have adopted the strategic lifesaving technology and many lives are now saved for the country.
