Statement by the advisory board on the Nigeria prize for science 2019
Protocols
Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for making out time to join us.
Earlier in the year, the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Science announced the call for entries for the annual prize, centred on the theme “Climate Change: Erosion, Drought and Desertification”. The focus for this year’s prize is significant because the adverse impact of climate change is the major cause of soil degradation and low productivity.
A Panel of Judges was appointed to assess entries submitted for the 2019 Prize. The appointed judges are seasoned academics who have wide experience, peer recognition, good public image and command respect nationally and internationally. The choice of the judges, reflect a multi-disciplinary approach relevant to the theme in focus. A total number of twenty-eight (28) entries for the 2019 prize were handed over to the panel of judges for independent evaluation. Each member of the Panel was to evaluate the entries individually and submit to the NLNG secretariat. Thereafter, the Panel convened to discuss and harmonise the submissions.
To guide the adjudication process, the judges applied in a decisive manner, the Assessment Criteria for the 2019 The Nigeria Prize for Science competition which provide that the research/intervention/innovation must:
Have been Completed and validated.
Possess technical soundness/quality of entry.
Demonstrate evidence of originality/uniqueness.
Have significant impact on Electricity Solution.
Be feasible.
Be acceptable.
Be free of ethical issues.
Be reproducible and attractive to stakeholders.
Be affordable, cost effective and accessible.
After diligent consideration and objective application of the guidelines and criteria, the judges found out that most of the entries failed the basic criteria test.
While some of the entries were of low quality, the panel identified an outstandingly clear and excellent piece of work, which in its opinion was exceptional and thus deserving of the award. The judges have accordingly adjudged the joint works of Professor Meihong Wang and Dr. Mathew Aneke on Carbon Capture, CO2 utilization and Biomass gasification and Energy storage for power generation, worthy of the Nigeria Prize for Science 2019.
Professor Wang and Dr. Aneke have been consistent in their research efforts geared towards development of environment friendly and alternative power supply technologies. This is to address the adverse impact of power supply technologies for which fossil fuels and fuelwoods have been prominent with the attendant release of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions (the culprits for ozone layer depletion) leading to a rise in temperature and therefore in climate change on the long run. The works addressed core environmental issues notably deforestation, CO2 production, associated climate change and the resultant effects such as erosion, drought and desertification. Their joint works demonstrate innovative and holistic strategy to tackle climate change impacts and therefore merits the Nigeria Prize for Science Award 2019.
This year’s award has highlighted the international nature of the award which involved a joint research between a Nigerian and a non-Nigerian both collaborating on works which precipitate great potential for solutions to the global issue of climate change. 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 Professor Wang and Dr. Aneke for a job well done. We also commend the Panel of judges for the diligence, which was apparent in the delivery of this assignment. We are particularly pleased that in evaluating the entries, they upheld the objectives of the Prize, which seeks to identify and promote excellence in utilizing scientific knowledge for the achievement of desired solutions. The journey has by no means been easy. A lot of hard work and thoroughness had gone into the exercise for which we are grateful. It is also proper that I acknowledge and commend my colleagues on the Advisory Board for their invaluable contributions throughout the process.
We appreciate the Board and Management of Nigeria LNG for instituting and sustaining arguably the biggest Science Prize in Africa. We hope that others will emulate them as they continue to demonstrate in deeds their passion for helping to build a better Nigeria and ultimately Africa. We particularly thank them for their consistency and continued sponsorship of the prize in the face of challenging economic and social landscape.
Finally, our gratitude is to you all ladies and gentlemen of the press for publicising the Prize.
This announcement formally marks the end of the 2019 Prize implementation cycle. Professor Meihong Wang and Dr. Mathew Aneke will be presented the award at a ceremony billed for October 11, 2019 in our nation’s capital, Abuja.
With the hindsight of implementing the Prize over the years, experience has taught us to announce the theme for the next edition early to give ample time to allow for researchers to prepare their entries. Consequently, it gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science, to announce the theme for the 2020 competition as: “Innovations for Sustainable Food Security”.
A call for entries will be made early in 2020 to commence the receipt of entries.
Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy the rest of the day.
Prof Alfred A. Susu
Chairman, Advisory Board – The Nigeria Prize for Science
4th September 2019.
