Cross River University of Technology wins N10 m NCDMB Science Innovation challenge

Two students of Cross River University of Technology, Victoria Effiong and Paul Agbor, has emerged winners of the Science and Technology Innovation Challenge, organised by Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, in partnership with Enactus Nigeria.

They emerged winners after defeating five other universities, to win the trophy and N10, million cash prize, on Tuesday.

This is the first edition of the challenge, and six universities made it to the finals of the Nigerian Content Science and Technology Innovation Challenge (STIC)

Second position went  to University of His, with a cash prize of N4 million, while University of Agriculture Makurdi, came third with a cash prize of N1.5 million.

Tai Solarin University of Education, Anchor University, Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, went home with plaque and cash prize of N100,000 each as consolation prizes.

In his address Governor Douye Diri, of Bayelsa, explained that his administration was focusing on development of skills acquisition through establishment of colleges of science and technical education in every local government area of the state.

Diri, said there was a real need to change the narrative on unemployment in the state in the light of an increasingly digitised global economy.

The governor noted that the state government had adopted an educational curriculum that has shifted emphasis from certificate education to science and technology-based skills as no society could develop beyond its level of education.

He called for collaboration with the NCDMB and other stakeholders to ensure that science and technology was given a premium in the educational sector.

He commended the NCDMB management and its partners for introducing the challenge to build the capacity of young Nigerians in science and technology, noting that the programme was in line with the board's mandate to bridge the technology and manpower needs in the oil and gas industry.

In his address, the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Mr. Simbi Wabote, said the Nigerian Content Science, Technology and Innovation Challenge was one of its various interventions to serve as a catalyst for the industrialisation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and allied sectors.

Wabote, explained that the STIC in partnership with Enactus Nigeria Limited was at the grand finale stage with over 170 public and private universities in Nigeria participating.

He said the programme was targeted at students of accredited tertiary institutions to apply science, technology and Innovation to finding homegrown solutions to everyday problems across all sectors of the economy.

The challenge, Wabote explained, was aimed at engaging, developing, showcasing, supporting and rewarding deserving students, lecturers and universities that excelled in the challenge.

The Country Director, Enactus Nigeria, Mr Michael Ajayi, described the challenge as a unique opportunity to create entrepreneurs while reducing the unemployment rate and supporting the economic advancement of the country.

He said inspite of that economic indices indicate that unemployment is growing at a dangerous alarming rate in Nigeria as it stands at 33% and report shows that it is second highest on the global list.

"However Enactus Nigeria believes that entrepreneurial development (inclusive of SMEs) is a tool that will drive innovation and encourage entrepreneurs to create new enterprises.

"Enactus Nigeria also believes that such entrepreneurial activities will also create wealth even at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and systematically reverse the growing unemployment rate and it's unintended attendant socio-economic impact.

"We are very delighted at the successes recorded this far in the implementation of the science and technology challenge; and we look forward to a successful grand finale today.

"Our expectation is that at the end of the STIC, we would have created and facilitated sustainable youth-led entrepreneurial ventures that will accelerate reverse-innovation, provide job opportunities and create wealth," he said.

After the official launch of the STIC on November 19 2020, a total of 1,022 undergraduates from 129 accredited and recognized Nigerian tertiary institutions created teams of two students each and submitted 511 home-grown solutions for screening/evaluation.