Three engineering innovators have been awarded the sum of N20 million by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) through its engineering innovation competition.
The competition, held in Lagos, was the second in the series and attracted approximately 60 innovation submissions from across the country, out of which the top seven were selected.
At the innovation, entitled ”Production of 3-D printing filament from PET bottles,” Dr Anye Vitalis, the head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, emerged as the winner of the competition and was awarded the sum of N10 million.
The second position was won by a group of innovators from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who developed an automated hot air dryer powered by a TLUD biomass gasifier. The group won a cash prize of N5 million.
In the third position, two winners emerged. They include a group of engineers who developed a smart solar inverter management system and Prof Babson Ajibade, a former head of the Department of Visual Arts and Technology at the University of Cross River State, Calabar. Each won a cash prize of N2.5 million respectively. Others got the sum of N500,000 each.
The Chairman, Travel Fellowship Grant Award, Dr Terseer Ako of the University of Jos, won the sum of $4,000. The academy also presented various awards to supporting firms and organisations that have been sponsoring the activities of the NAEng over the past years.
Speaking on the initiative at the NAEng 2025 technology dinner and award night, the President of the Academy, Prof Rahamon Bello, pointed out that the problems of Nigeria can only be solved by Nigerians, adding that the huge numbers of brilliant Nigerians are only challenged by a lack of opportunities to express themselves/skills.
This, he said, the NAEng was trying to address through the innovation competition by exposing the real concept of engineering innovation in support of all sectors of life and the economy.
Bello said, “We try to pick the best three every year and try to support them to reach the goal of commercialisation. We have another committee that we assist, advise, and expose to would-be investors who would partner with them to make their invention available for Nigerians and beyond. We are starting late, but it is never too late. We are always appealing for partners to support the initiative and drive that we have.”
He highlighted that the innovation competition was a push towards supporting the ‘Nigeria first policy’ recently announced by the Federal Government.
Bello advanced the need to patronise Nigerian made products as a priority, stressing that it is crucial for the nation to develop innovative things that can solve the nations’ problems, and create more Nigerian products that can benefit the economy.
Chairman of NAEng Innovation Competition Committee, Dr ‘Keluo Chukwuogo, disclosed that each of the innovations presented has the quality of engineering input sought after and were relevant to national development but one came out first.
He emphasised that the government needs to support initiatives such as the engineering innovation competition, support made in Nigeria products.
Chukwuogo said the harsh economic situation in the country limits the development and growth of innovations.
He said: “When someone has done something in the area of innovation in Nigeria, it should be supported by the Nigerian government and Nigerian enterprises. We should like ourselves and the things we do,” he said.
