Recently updated on March 21st, 2020 at 11:43 pm
Akintade Abdullahi Akanbi from Osogbo Government High School Osogbo, Osun State, has emerged overall winner of the 2020 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award Competition.
Uwakwe Nelson Kamsiyochukwu from British Spring College, Awka emerged in second place while Aimofumhe Eshiobomhe Sigmus from the School of the Gifted, Gwagwalada, Abuja, emerged in third place.
The 2020 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award Competition for 774 competitors was organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
According to Akintade Abdullahi Akanbi:
“I was very excited when the announcement was made because I had been hoping to win a major competition for some time. When I eventually emerged as the winner of the science competition, I was very excited. I thank everyone who supported me to achieve the feat.
For the science competition, pupils were drawn from all 774 local government areas in Nigeria. We started the competition from the local government level, then we moved to state and from there, a representative emerged for each state.
The state representatives later met at the national level. We were subjected to examination and I emerged as the winner of the competition. We have 31 local government areas in Osun State. Representatives from local government areas in Osun converged on the Ministry of Education for the competition.
I emerged first. Then out of the 31 local government representatives, the first 15 were selected and another round of test was conducted for us. After that round, I also emerged as the best and that made me to be the state representative. After that, we went to Abuja to compete with the other state representatives.
We took examinations in biology, mathematics, physics and chemistry and after adding the scores, I emerged as the winner.
I intend to study Medicine and Surgery. I plan to attend the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
I have been in love with science since I was in primary school. Then, I used to imagine how people would undergo surgery without them losing their lives. I love science because if you look at life itself, it is being controlled by science. The way you move, eat and live is being explained by science.
My father is a retired teacher. He taught at a government school before he left service. My mum is still in service; she is working at Young Tajudeen Elementary School, Ido-Osun.”
Declaring open the 2020 Science, Technology and Innovation Expo with the theme: “Enhancing The Growth Of A Diversified Economy Through Science And Technology”, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the creativity and competitive spirit of the three young scientists who emerged tops in the competition tagged 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (774 YONSPA).
President Buhari granted full scholarship up to doctorate degree level to Akintade Abdullahi Akanbi, Uwakwe Nelson Kamsiyochukwu, and Aimofumhe Eshiobomhe Sigmus. The scholarship is for them to study any science-related discipline of their choice at any university in the country.
According to President Buhari:
“This is richly embodied in our youth who make up tens of millions of incredibly talented persons, constantly pushing and striving towards greatness. The future of Nigeria belongs to our youth.
This Administration will therefore continue to create the enabling environment for them to develop to the fullest, their potentials.
We will harness their energy and their talents to make Nigeria achieve true greatness.
Government will continually support the creation of intervention funds to strengthen research and development, human capacity building programmes and collaboration with the organized private sector.
We will continue to work towards the realisation of the National Research and Innovation Fund. I am aware, this Fund will help promote research activities in our country.
This remains my aim for Nigerians.
Nigerians at home and abroad have always demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and inventiveness and with the right environment, and policy framework, there is no limit to how far Nigerian innovation can go.
A prime example of an outstanding Nigerian is Mal. Jelani Aliyu, who is now Director-General of the National Automatic Design and Development Council.
Malam Jelani designed the General Motors of America’s leading auto brand, the Chevrolet Volt.
“Now he is assuring Nigerians that all the cars that took part in Argungu Motor Rally were assembled in Nigeria.”
