Category: Education & Innovation

The goal of education and innovation in Nigeria is envisioned to be ruled by true wisdom and self-consciousness. The Nigerian innovative spirit coupled with humane values is acknowledged in its dynamic and universal applicability.

 

Adebunmi Adeniran Develops Nailangs Keyboard

Adebunmi Adeniran has developed Nailangs keyboard to support and enable writing in at least 12 Nigerian languages, with correct signs and tones to give instant meaning to the reader.

The Keyboard, known as NAILANGS, according to her, was conceived as a result of her zeal to ensure that Nigerian local languages are learned with ease so as to prevent the languages from going into extinction.

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Philip Obaji Wins 2015 Future Awards Africa Prize For Young Person Of The Year

Nigerian education and children’s rights activist, Philip Obaji has received the 2015 Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year for inspiring work in the continent in the last eighteen months.

Fellow countryman and bank analyst, Adesoji Solanke, South African TV host, Trevor Noah, Kenyan activist Teresa Mbagaya and her compatriot, Barclay Okari, a serial entrepreneur, were the other Africans shortlisted for the prestigious award held in Nigeria’s commercial city of Lagos.

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Obi Brown & Chijioke Ezegbo Win 2015 Etisalat Innovation Prize

Obi Brown and Chijioke Ezegbo have won the 2015 Etisalat Innovation Prize.

Obi Brown won five million Naira in the most innovative product or service category, and Chijioke Ezegbo winning the two million Naira cash prize attached to the most innovative idea category.

They were also rewarded with high-end mobile devices, Etisalat Mifi bundle with free data for one year as well as In-house Business Development Mentoring and product promotion using the Etisalat Online Platforms.

To clinch the 5 million Naira, Obi Brown created an application called ‘Study Lab Math’, a repository of over 1300 videos solving math problems in over 49 topics in the NERDC curriculum for senior secondary school students. The problems are solved by a team of Math teachers led by WAEC Chief Examiner.

Chijioke Ezegbo, created a Dedicated Traffic Mapping Device (DTMD, which emerged the winning idea in the most innovative idea category. It’s a GPRS enabled traffic navigation device with voice over interface which is affixed to a vehicle windshield to help users navigate their way through traffic by accessing real-time traffic data and suggesting shorter or alternate routes.
The Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, noted that the Prize for Innovation initiative which aims at discovering and growing young Nigerians with innovative products, ideas and solutions using mobile broadband technology, reflects the company’s commitment to nurturing talents and promoting creativity that will have invaluable impacts on individuals and organisations.
In his words on the 2015 Etisalat Innovation Prize:
“As a company, innovation is at the core of our business; it is the strength on which we thrive. The world is driven by innovation and Nigeria needs innovators whose ideas and products can drive development and help people live as they should.
We at Etisalat are glad to provide a platform to mobilise the nation’s teeming crop of young and undiscovered innovators to impact all areas of the society.

50 Nigerians Obtain First Class Honours At The Linton University College Malaysia

50 Nigerians have obtained first class honours at the Linton University College Malaysia.

The number (50 Nigerians) is part of the 253 students who graduated in various academic disciplines at the 2015 convocation ceremony of the university.

According to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, 35 PTDF scholars were among the Nigerians who graduated at the 2015 convocation ceremony, which was done in collaboration with University of East London and Coventry University, United Kingdom.

The Fund stated:

“Altogether 50 Nigerian graduates distinguished themselves with first class honours degrees, among whom were 13 PTDF scholars who earned first class degrees in Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Business Management and Civil Engineering.”

The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Mrs. Janet Odeka, said the unprecedented achievement of the Nigerian scholars in the university in Malaysia had contributed in creating a positive image for Nigerians living in the country.

According to Mrs. Odeka:

“I am really excited and grateful because this is the first time we are having such number of graduates who produced good results such as first class and second class upper. We have had students from Nigeria who were involved in criminal activities and other immoral acts, but for the first time we are celebrating something we should be proud of as Nigerians and I wish to appeal to Nigerians here that they should emulate what these graduands have done to attract a good name for Nigeria.”

According to the Executive Secretary, PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi on the achievement:

“Rather than being skeptical about the future and apprehensive about job opportunities back home in Nigeria, you should be excited knowing that a new chapter has opened in Nigeria that provides the enabling environment for those who genuinely wish to make it in Nigeria.

This is something to be very proud of and excited about, particularly when you know the areas they specialise. We have high hopes for them. If you have people who have excelled, the thing to do is to deploy their knowledge in the right direction. Some will proceed for their masters and PhD and for those who want to work, we will link them up with available job opportunities in Nigeria.

With the kind of knowledge and experience they have here, I am hopeful that their skills and knowledge will be readily utilised in Nigeria and I will encourage them to go back home.”