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.
