Oritsegbubemi OmatseyinLagos — The winning work of The Nigeria Prize for Science 2023, organised by the Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, has demonstrated innovation in neonatal care in Nigeria. The work by Professor Hippolite Amadi produced three technological innovations aimed at saving the lives of neonates by making the delivery of oxygen cheap and easy.
The winning work was presented to the industry community at an event organised by NLNG in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry,LCCI.
The event focused on building collaboration between the researcher and the industry investors towards optimising the utilisation of the innovation to fulfil NLNG’s vision of helping to build a better Nigeria.
The Nigeria Prize for Science, a prestigious initiative sponsored by NLNG, over the years, has continued to play a pivotal role in stimulating ground-breaking innovations aimed at improving healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the event, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, represented by Yemi Adeyemi, Acting Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, said a report by the World Health Organization, ,WHO, in 2023 ranked Nigeria as the country with the second highest number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths worldwide, adding that Nigeria stands the risk of normalising neonatal mortality if nothing is done to stop it.
“The ground-breaking innovations of Professor Amadi, as recognised by The Nigeria Prize for Science, are not merely a step forward for our nation but a beacon of hope for the countless new-born lives that hang in the balance. We cannot afford to let the cries of our new-borns fade into the background of our daily lives. The urgency to combat neonatal mortality is a solemn duty to safeguard the future of our nation’s children, and we must answer that call with unwavering determination and immediate, decisive measures.
“NLNG is very proud of Professor Amadi’s discoveries through The Nigeria Prize for Science. Our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria is the core of the prize, and we believe strongly that the 2023 winning entry speaks in unambiguous terms as one of the ways we can achieve this vision. NLNG remains committed to the prize and will not relent in finding solutions to the nation’s development issues,” he stated.
The guests at the event included the 2023 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science, Professor Amadi; LCCI President, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa; the LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona; and other LCCI executives.
The LCCI President, Mr. Idahosa, stated in his address that the business interactive forum provided a unique opportunity for the Nigerian business community to learn from Professor Amadi’s work. He said that if Nigeria, given its natural endowments, is to successfully transform its economy and achieve significant growth, science and technology and its integration into the socio-economic development process must be accorded the highest priority.
“It is important to note the recognition of Professor Amadi’s work in the field of newborn and child healthcare, which was selected from over a hundred entries. The work is not only based on how it can significantly advance neonatal care in Nigeria but also on how it can improve access and reduce neonatal care costs.
“We urge the government to provide targeted funding toward the local production of healthcare and pharmaceutical devices, as this will help reduce the burden of foreign exchange spent on importing most of our healthcare needs in Nigeria. Several lessons can be drawn from this achievement regarding our daily business and personal life,” he said.
The Nigeria Prize for Science is a $100,000, it is sponsored by NLNG to proffer innovations in science and technology to solve age-long problems and drive development in Nigeria.
This is in addition to other contributions in the health sector through other investments for the enhancement and furnishing of critical aspects of medical care in some Federal Medical Institutions across the country through its ongoing Hospital Support Programme ,HSP, initiative. This initiative aims to engender state-of-the-art facilities and resources for the healthcare institutions towards delivering high-quality care to patients.
