By
Chioma Umeha
The Advisory Board of the
Nigeria Prize for Science and Nigeria LNG Limited
(NLNG) Thursday announced three research works as joint winners for
the 2017 edition of the prize after two years intensive search for innovations
in the fight to end Malaria.
The award comes with a
cash prize of $100, 000.
The announcement was made
by the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science Prize, Professor Akpoveta
Susu at a press conference in Lagos.
“Improving Home and
Community Management of Malaria: Providing the Evidence Base” by Ikeoluwapo
Ajayi, Ayodele Jegede & Bidemi Yusuf; “Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria
Control in Research: Management of Malaria of Various Grades and Mapping
Artemisinin Resistance” by Olugbenga Mokuolu; and “Novel lipid microparticles
for effective delivery of Artemether antimalarial drug using a locally-sourced
Irvingia fat from nuts of Irvingia gabonensis var excelsa (ogbono)” by Chukwuma
Agubata were announced as the winning research works from 27 entries for this
year’s edition of the prize.
Reacting to the verdict,
the General Manager, External Relations at NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said “This is
not just a great milestone for the prize and NLNG. It is a great milestone for
the people of Nigeria and Africa. Today’s result is two-pronged. 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. It is truly a day to celebrate. But 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 initiate and bring it to life,” he said.
He remarked further: “I
commend the Board and the panel of judges for giving hope to science and
scientists alike by announcing winners after a long stretch of no-winner
verdicts. NLNG will not relent in using this prize to impact positively on
Nigerians, and helping to build a better Nigeria.”
According to Professor
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 realized,” he stated.
He also announced
“Innovations in Power Solutions” as the Advisory Board’s pick for 2018 prize
theme.
According to the judges’
report, the work “Improving Home and Community Management of Malaria: Providing
the Evidence Base” was adjudged one of the winning entries because of its
contribution to malaria in the community. The panel stated that the submission
consists of many publications which systematically evaluated and demonstrated
the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of artemether-lumefantrine
(AL) – the ACT of choice in Nigeria for home management of malaria.
On the co-winning work,
“Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria Control in Research: Management of Malaria of
Various Grades and Mapping Artemisinin Resistance,” the panel remarked that the
work contributed significantly to the area of management of severe malaria and
monitoring of molecular markers of artemisinin resistance.
The panel also added that
“Novel lipid microparticles for effective delivery of Artemether antimalarial
drug using a locally-sourced Irvingia fat from nuts of Irvingia gabonensis var
excelsa (Ogbono)” demonstrated how novel lipid microparticles can be effective
for the delivery of artemether antimalarial drug using a locally-sourced
Irvingia fat from Ogbono, which is grown in Nigeria.
The number of entries for
the 2017 edition exceeded the 2016 entry numbers of 15, showing increasing
awareness and interest in one of Africa’s most prestigious science and
technology prizes.
The decision on the
winning entry of The Nigeria Prize for Science was reached by a panel of
judges, led by Professor Catherine Falade, a professor of pharmacology, at the
University of Ibadan. Other members of the panel include
Professor Sunday Ene-Ojo Atawodi, Professor of Biochemistry at Ahmadu
Bello University and Prof. Obioma Nwaorgu, a public health parasitologist and
epidemiologist from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa.
Other members of the
Advisory Board for the Science Prize, besides Professor Susu, a past winner of
The Nigeria Prize for Science, are Professor Michael Adikwu, Vice-Chancellor,
University of Abuja and also a past winner of the science prize; Professor
Elijah Mshelia, a nuclear physicist; Professor Barth Nnaji, renowned scientist
and former Minister of Power; and Chief Dr. Nike Akande, President, Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and two-time Minister.
The first winner for the
prize in 2004 was Professor Akpoveta Susu and his then doctoral student,
Kingsley Abhulimen. In 2005, there was no winner. Professor Michael Adikwu won
the prize in 2006. In 2007, as it was in 2005, there was no winner, however, in
2008, Dr. Ebenezer Meshida emerged winner. Professor Andrew Nok and
Professor Akii Ibhadode won the prize in 2009 and 2010 respectively. There has
been no winner since 2010.
