The Advisory Board announced Thursday, May 9 a remarkable surge in entries for the 2024 cycle of the Nigeria Prize for Science, with 153 submissions—a 53% increase over last year, marking a 20-year high record.
The entries were revealed at a ceremony in Lagos, where they were handed over to the judges to commence the adjudication process. Managed by the sponsor of the prize, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the entries were presented by Mr. Andy Odeh, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, to the Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Professor Barth Nnaji, signifying a significant milestone in the prize cycle.
This year, under the theme “Innovations and Technologies for Reducing the Effects of Climate Change,” the entries will compete for recognition, reflecting the urgency of addressing environmental challenges.
Mr Odeh emphasised the critical importance of this year’s theme, stressing that combating climate change is essential for Nigeria’s future and humanity’s survival.
“You can agree with me that the theme of this year’s prize will be of unquantifiable monetary value to the nation as you know that climate change, arising from green gas emission, remains a major setback to human development,” he said.
He stated further that 2024 was a special year for both The Nigeria Prize for Science, and its sister prize, The Nigeria Prize for Literature, as the prizes celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Mr. Andy emphasised that the Nigeria Prize for Science was an annual prize aimed at stimulating the advancement and application of science and technology, adding that the quest for a prestigious prize in science is expected to improve science and technology in Nigeria, resolve issues that are germane to development of the country and help improve the standards of living.
Other members of the Advisory Board are Chief Dr Nike Akande, a two-time minister and former President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Professor Yusuf Abubakar, a professor of Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics and the Coordinator of Agriculture Group, R & D Standing Committee, at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
They were also at the event.
As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, initiatives like the Nigeria Prize for Science play a crucial role in driving innovation and fostering solutions to mitigate environmental degradation. The increased participation in this year’s cycle signals a growing recognition of the imperative to address climate change through scientific ingenuity and collaborative efforts.
The Nigeria Prize for Science is arguably the most prestigious science prize in Africa and one of NLNG’s biggest social investment projects.
The increased participation in this year’s cycle signals a growing recognition of the imperative to address climate change through scientific ingenuity and collaborative efforts.