Category: Science & Technology

Five scientists have emerged as joint winners of the 2017 Nigeria $100,000 Prize for Science.

The Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science Prize, Prof. Akpoveta Susu, said that the winners, whose research works were selected from 27 entries were recognised for their innovative work in the field of malaria.

Ikeoluwapo Ajayi, Ayodele Jegede and Bidemi Yusuf were recognised as joint winners for their research work titled, Improving Home and Community Management of Malaria: Providing the Evidence Base.

Olugbenga Mokuola won for his work titled, ‘Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria Control in Research: Management of Malaria of Various Grades’.

Chukwuma Agubata emerged as a winner for his work titled, ‘Novel Lipid Microparticles for Effective Delivery of Artemether Antimalarial Drug using a Locally-Sourced Irvingia Fat from Nuts of Irvingia Gabonensis var Excelsa (Ogbono)’.

According to Prof. Akpoveta Susu:

“We acknowledge the difficulties associated with scientific research in developing countries including Nigeria, where infrastructure deficit could deal a debilitating challenge.

Our hope is that the award of this prize would in its own little way provide a spark that would reinvigorate the passion of our budding scientists in finding solutions to our everyday issues.

We congratulate the winners for a job well done and for achieving this feat in the midst of an impressive array of entries. This is indeed a call to do more so that the identified potentials could be realised.”

Prof. Akpoveta Susu further stated that while malaria was the focus of this year’s edition, innovations in the power sector has been adopted as the theme of the 2018 science prize.

The NLNG General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, who commended the judge’s assessment, said the winning entries had addressed salient issues and challenges facing malaria treatment and control in Nigeria.

Mr. Kudo Eresia-Eke said:

“This is a great milestone for the people of Nigeria and Africa. Firstly, we finally have a winner for the Science Prize and secondly, we have some commendable research works that have contributed significantly to the body of knowledge on the disease and even provide some interesting opportunities for local approach to defeating malaria.

The hard work must not stop. The winners will need support to translate this to real benefits for Nigerians. We are calling on the government and corporate Nigeria to support this initiative and bring it to life.”

Team Nicademia has won the 2017 Changemaker Challenge, organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). As overall winner, Team Nicademia receives a cash prize of 1 million Naira with an acceptance into incubation programme superintended in the 2017 Changemaker Challenge.

Nicademia is an online distribution platform for African-inspired animations and cartoons that seek to promote African culture, traditions and values to the world.

The USPF Changemaker Challenge 2017, an arm of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is a nationwide competition open to innovators, software developers, User Experience (UX) designers, students and other ICT enthusiasts from all over Nigeria.

The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta Represented by Head of Strategy and Corporate Performance Monitoring, USPF, Mr. Kelechi Nwankwo said the aims and objectives of the Challenge were to empower the Nigerian youths by challenging their tenacity to create technology-driven solutions for the needs of their Communities and the nation at large adding that the development of ICT was the reason for the creation of USPF.

He, however, assured that NCC would continue to use USPF as a platform in the promotion and application of innovation processes in ICT, to help empower the youth saying that one of the commission’s eight-point agenda is the promotion of ICT innovations and investment opportunities.

In his words:

“We believe that there is no better way to propagate this than to proactively involve the new generation of tech-innovators and entrepreneurs. Given the right platform and support, they can analyse and address everyday problems and find solutions to them. The innovation is already in them. This is in sync with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) policy objectives on telecommunications/ICT; to encourage rapid ICT penetration among all socioeconomic levels and increase broadband penetration.

“The ERGP policy is to promote and encourage local production of ICT hard and software, to reduce import dependence and generate foreign exchange by exporting to the regional and continental markets. Indeed, the ERGP acknowledges that ICT and digital technology have the potential to ramp up, transform labour productivity and create new economic sectors. It is our belief that the solutions and services that emerge from this changemaker challenge 2017 will demonstrate that fact.”

The Secretary of USPF, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, said 226 applications from the six geo-political zones of the country were received for the contest. He said innovation was at the centre of the current ICT and knowledge revolution and opportunities. According to him, USPF organises the competition with the conviction that the critical mass of the emerging information society resides in innovation and software know-how.

In his words:

“The USPF organised this special challenge to spur national technology innovation development and deliver appropriate solutions-dependable instrument, tools and meaningful responses to global challenges presented by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The maiden edition took place in 2015 and we are pleased to let you know that the three winning solutions are still in the market and expanding.”

Team Jiggle came second while Team Kano Magenta made third position. Team Jiggle and Team Kano Magenta received ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively and both will also undergo incubation programme.

AMINT Aerial Industries, has been shortlisted for the Airbus Bizlab global aerospace accelerator program in Hamburg, Germany.

Airbus BizLab is a global platform where start-ups selected from around the world work together to tackle specific humanitarian challenges. The program includes funding to cover expenses and the option of investment into the startup.

The six months program provides start-ups access to Airbus business and technical coaches, experts and mentors. Each program also includes a demo day with Airbus decision makers, venture capitalists, and industry partners.

Continue reading AMINT Aerial Industries Shortlisted for 2017 Airbus BizLab

Nigeria has won the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World Government Award for being the government with the most innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) included in its national pavilion at the ITU Telecom Awards 2017.

Nigerian fintech startup, Medsaf also won the Greatest Social Impact award of the Global SMEs Awards at the ITU Telecom Awards 2017 held in Busan, South Korea.

Continue reading Nigeria Triumphs at ITU Telecom Awards 2017

Oshi Agabi has unveiled a computer based modem-sized device – dubbed Koniku Kore capable of recognising the smell of explosives and could be used to replace traditional airport security.

The prototype of the device unveiled at the TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania is an amalgam of living neurons and silicon, with olfactory capabilities — basically sensors that can detect and recognise smells.

According to Mr. Oshi Agabi:

“You can give the neurons instructions about what to do – in our case we tell it to provide a receptor that can detect explosives.”

He envisages a future where such devices can be discreetly used at various points in airports, eliminating the need for queues to get through airport security.

As well as being used for bomb detection, the device could be used to detect illness by sensing markers of a disease in the air molecules that a patient gives off.

Koniku Kore he believes has partially solved one of the biggest challenges of harnessing biological systems – keeping the neurons alive.

While computers are better than humans at complex mathematical equations, there are many cognitive functions where the brain is much better: training a computer to recognise smells would require colossal amounts of computational power and energy, for example.

Mr. Oshi Agabi is attempting to reverse-engineer biology, which already accomplishes this function with a fraction of the power it would take a silicon-based processor.

According to him: “Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain.”

He launched his start-up Koniku over a year ago, has raised $1 million (£800,000) in funding and claims it is already making profits of $10 million in deals with the security industry.

Advances in neuroscience, bioengineering and computer science means that much more is known about how the human brain works than ever before.

This is fuelling the development of neuro-technology – devices that aim to mould the brain into computers.

Much of the current work is aimed at improving brain function, particularly for those with brain-related injuries or diseases.

Established by Technology Africa, the Titans of Tech Awards is a platform where the most influential players in West African ICT markets interact for the purpose of exchanging ideas and positively influencing and promoting ICT agenda for the optimal good.

The Titans of Tech award held at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island Lagos, recognizes stakeholders presently contributing to the advancement of technology in Nigeria.

• ‘Titan of Tech Merit’ award – Wale Olaoye (CEO of Halogen Security)   Honoured for his commitment and dedication to the integration of technology and its application to the Nigerian security landscape.
• Outstanding Government Agency of the Year – National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
  In recognition of the Agency’s recent drive at ensuring IT Compliance among MDAs and effecting a high level of professionalism in the industry.
• E-government solutions provider of the year – Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced its adoption of the innovative global addressing system, what3words.

Nigeria is the seventh country to adopt the module globally and third in Africa. The system is already in use for mail delivery in Mongolia, Sint Maarten, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Tonga and Solomon Islands.

Continue reading NIPOST Adopts What3words