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The Nigeria LNG Ltd., on Thursday announced that
2017 recorded the highest number of entries for the NLNG sponsored “The Nigeria
Prize for Science’’, worth 100, 000 dollars.
Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG’s General Manager,
External Relations, disclosed this at an event to hand over the entries to
panel of judges, in Lagos.
He said: “Science is a specialised field covered
by specialised thoughts; research and development in this area have aided in
the invention of breakthroughs that positively affect humanity.
“The journey for the NLNG sponsored Nigeria Prize
for Science is punctuated with milestones.
“One of it is the consolidation of entries and
announcement that entries are no more being received; that is where we are
today.
“ This year has the highest number of entries
since the inception of the programme, with 27 scientists competing for the
prize.
“This is about 80 per cent increase from last year
which recorded 16 entries.’’
According to Eresia-Eke, the theme for 2017 still
remains: “Innovations in Malaria
Control”.
He said, “Last year, we had 16 entries generated
by the same theme of Innovations in Malaria Control.
“However, not one of the 16 entries was strong
enough to emerge as winner for the 2016
NLNG Prize for Science.
“As such, there was no reward because the major
criterion for this award is excellence.
“But in recognition of the importance of the
theme, it was decided that it be extended into 2017 because of the devastating
effect of malaria, especially in Nigeria.
“The aim is to find a long-lasting solution to the
scourge of malaria in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Eresia-Eke said that entry for the prize was open
to scientists all over the world, irrespective of nationality.
However, the prospective winner’s focus would be
the one that had its thrust on a problem that weighed Nigeria down and also
aimed at bringing a solution to it.
Also, the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prof.
Alfred Susu emphasised that prizes would only and strictly be awarded based on
excellence.
According to him, some of the criteria for judging
the entries will include originality and uniqueness of the idea, as well as the
practicability of the concept.
He said that the theme was important because
malaria killed a lot of people in Nigeria, especially the vulnerable groups
including children, women and pregnant women.
In her remarks, Prof. Catherine Falade, the
Chairman of the panel of judges and a professor of pharmacology at the
University of Ibadan (UI), assured that the key indicator for choosing a winner
still remained excellence and uniqueness.
Falade, who is the Director of Institute for
Advanced Medical Research and Training, UI, said, “The judges evaluation will
be thorough.
“The theme is apt considering our present stance
in malaria control; though the rate is going down compared to what was
obtainable in previous years, indicators still show high prevalence.
“There is need for proven, validated, unique and
clear evidence based data to address the gaps in malaria management.
“It is only based on these that a winner can
emerge,’’ Falade said.
