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.
