2022 Nigeria Prize for Science:  Four Nigerians win $100,000 cash prize

Four Nigerians have emerged winners of the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Science organized by Nigeria LNG Ltd (NLNG). The organization disclosed in a statement on Thursday, 1st February 2023.

The winners, comprising a set of two teams are Muhydideen Oyekunle, Shehu Ado, Sesan Ayodeji and Emmanuel Olatomilola.  were announced by NLNG in partnership with the Lagos Chamber of commerce and Industry during a business forum.

The first winning entry presented by Muhydideen Oyekunle and Prof. Shehu Ado was on ‘Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivars under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions’ while the second entry by Prof. Sesan Peter Ayodeji and Dr Emmanuel Olatunji Olutomilola was on the  ‘Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour’.

According to the organizers, the winners were shortlisted out of over 107 entries from scientists worldwide for the 2022 edition.

The panel of judges, led by Prof. Christian Agbo, from the Department of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State reached the decision on the winning entries.

Other members on the panel included Ms Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, and Prof. Mohammed Magaji, from the Department of Agronomy, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

The two groups will split the 100,000 dollar grand prize.

During his remarks, the Chairman of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, said that the Nigeria Prize for Science was  sponsored by NLNG to promote innovations in science and technology that would solve age-long problems and drive development in Nigeria.

“It is our strategic view that the Nigeria Prize for Science would bring to the fore investment networks and harmonisation efforts to support agriculture in Nigeria.”he said in the statement.

Also, the President of LCCI, Michael Olawale-Cole, said that there was no better time to gather over a topic on food security as the threat of destructive flooding and droughts faces the country due to climate change.

He added that this was also coming at a time when Nigeria was grappling with a surging food inflation at 23.75 per cent which had been the main driver of Nigeria’s high headline inflation at 21.34 per cent.

Olawale-Cole said the country needed scientific exploits in the field of agriculture to beat the emerging effects of climate change.

He also praised the winners for the innovative discoveries. 

“The awardees we celebrate today have distinguished themselves with a show of unrivaled intellectual capacity that has led to innovative discoveries in agriculture and food security’ he said.

During his presentation, the General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, said the Prize’s focus on Food Security  was in alignment with Goal Two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger by 2030 and to achieve food security.

He said that NLNG was interested in the impact the innovations would have on food security and socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.

“Being a company committed to building a better Nigeria, NLNG is seeking ways to ensure that these improvements bring about positive developmental change in its home country,” he said.

“In the face of threatening weather conditions, we need new methods, tools, and infrastructure to cope with emerging challenges in agriculture.

“We celebrate the winners of the NLNG 2022 Nigeria Prize for Science, and we say congratulations to the awardees,” he said.