Entries for science prize rise by 53%

The Advisory Board of Nigeria Prize for Science has received 153 entries for 2024, attaining a 53 per cent increase over last year and breaking a 20-year record.

The number of entries was revealed, yesterday, at a ceremony to hand over the entries to judges for the commencement of the adjudication process. The entries came through the secretariat, which is managed by the sponsor of the prize, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG). NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Andy Odeh, handed over the entries to the Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, marking a major milestone in the prize cycle.

This year, the entries will vie for recognition under the theme “Innovations and Technologies for Reducing the Effect of Climate Change,” a choice reflecting the urgency of addressing environmental challenges.

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.

Odeh underscored the critical importance of this year’s theme, emphasising that combating climate change was not only vital for Nigeria’s future but also essential for the survival of humanity.

“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 the development of humans,” he said.

The Nigeria Prize for Science is arguably the most prestigious science prize in Africa and one of NLNG’s biggest social investment projects.