No fewer than 12 Nigerian budding researchers, innovators and scientists have won regional awards sponsored by Royal Academy of Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
Ikengaonline reports that the awards are based on innovations in four thematic areas, namely, Green Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, and Waste to Energy.
The Vice Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Charles Eze presented the certificates of awards to the awardees on at the arm of the academy in the institution.
Eze said that it was gratifying that the arm of the academy was domiciled in the institution through a unit called Innovation and Sustainable Development Centre, ESUT.
The vice chancellor said that the position of ESUT as the foremost university of science and technology in Nigeria necessitated the location of the centre in the school.
He said that ESUT had over the years pioneered innovations in the areas of science and technology.
“It is courtesy of the gesture of the Royal Academy of Engineering that we have in ESUT an arm of the academy,” he said.
The vice chancellor congratulated those who emerged victorious in the competition which he said was designed to produce technologies for rural sustainable development and community service.
“We are happy that ESUT is used as a hub by the academy and we are here to witness the awards to those who distinguished themselves as researchers in those four thematic areas.
“The competition was carried out in such a transparent manner that nobody can fault. The whole process of assessment were done online by the Royal Academy of Engineering,” he said.
Eze congratulated the awardees and urged them to do more and also charged the unsuccessful competitors to learn from the process.
Earlier, the Director, Innovation and Sustainable Development Centre, Prof. Paul Nnamchi, said that the competition was aimed at promoting renewable energy technologies, green materials, waste-to-energy solutions, and sustainable agriculture to rural communities.
Nnamchi said that such would be achieved through research, training, and entrepreneurship for good jobs.
He mentioned some of the benefits of the project to include economic growth, sustainable communities, and healthy living for the local population.
“At various levels, this project will have an impact on a variety of stakeholders. For individuals, it will contribute to a cleaner environment, high quality education, and wellbeing.
“For organisations, it will initiate new research and development projects and investments in renewable energy, waste utilisation, and sustainable agriculture.
“For local economies, it will help to contribute to the government’s policy of creating high-standard living conditions in remote populated areas,” Nnamchi said.
The winners of the competition in any of the four categories got N650, 000, the first runners up got N400, 000 while the second runners ups got N200, 000.
Meanwhile , the following students, lecturers and corporate entities won prizes in the respective categories as follows:
Green Material Category- Simon Ikechukwu, third position, Prof Samuel Wara and team from Afe Babalola University second position , Victor Ojiugo, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) first position.
Renewable Energy: Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group (corporate entity) from Federal University of Technology, Minna third position, Chiagoziem Ugwu (Government Technical College, Enugu), second position, Chinecherem Ozoude (UNN) and Chinwe Udeze (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka), first position.
Sustainable Agriculture: Dolapo Oladeji (University of Ibadan,) third position, Kingsley Obasi, second position, Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group, Minna, first position.
Waste to Energy: Chukwuka Israel, third position, Mr I. A. Ayoade (University of Ibadan), second position and Ifeanyi Aghaulo (Obafemi Awolowo University) first position.
