The panel of judges for the Nigeria Prize for Science has said two outstanding scientific works have won the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) $100,000 prize.
A former Minister of Power and chairperson of the Advisory Board for the prize, Prof. Barth Nnaji, announced this at a media briefing yesterday in Lagos.
The theme of the event, organised by NLNG for the 2022 edition, is: Innovations in Sustainable Food Security.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panel of judges for the Nigeria Prize for Science received 107 entries from scientists worldwide for the 2022 edition.
A panel of judges, led by Prof. Christian Agbo, of the Department of Agriculture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), reached the decision on the winning entries.
Other members on the panel are: Ms. Funke Opeke, the Chief Executive Officer of MainOne and Prof. Mohammed Magaji, of the Department of Agronomy at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Nnaji said one of the outstanding works was on: Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivars Under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions, by Muhydideen Oyekunle and Shehu Ado. He said the second one was on: Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour, by Sesan Ayodeji and Emmanuel Olatomilola.
The advisory board chairman said the two groups would split the $100,000 grand prize.
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On the judges’ report, the chairman said the works address food security, which was a key component of the national agenda.
He added that the works were in line with Goal Two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which sought sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms by 2030 and to achieve food security.
Nnaji also said the choice of the judges reflected a multi-disciplinary approach relevant to the theme in focus.
The chairman said the advisory board was particularly pleased that in evaluating the entries, the judges upheld the objectives of the prize, which sought to identify and promote excellence in utilising scientific knowledge.
“Muhyideen Oyekunle, a maize breeder, and Prof. Shehu Ado, an agricultural expert’s work on: Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivars Under Drought and Well Watered Conditions, provides us with a unique opportunity,” he said.
“The maize seeds they selected, courtesy of a breeding programme, have been tested to be high-yielding and water stress tolerant.
“Prof. Sesan Ayodeji, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and his colleague, Mr. Emmanuel Olatomilola’s work on: Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour, is important for reducing spoilage of farm produce and package for distribution as well as value addition for farm products,” he said.
The advisory board chairman hailed the NLNG board and management for instituting, sponsoring and sustaining what he called the biggest science prize in Africa.
NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh, said the science prize was growing in strength as the 2022 verdict depicted.
Odeh said the advisory board and NLNG were working behind the scenes to review the prize for bigger impact and inclusiveness for the good of society.
He said science could provide solutions to most of the country’s challenges and urged relevant stakeholders and the public to continue to support NLNG through the Nigeria Prize for Science.