Science, Technology and Innovation are indeed the bedrock of growth and development for any society and it is with this knowledge that the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation kicked off the National Science, Technology and Innovation week.
The 2022 Expo which has its theme as “Sustaining National Growth through Science, Technology and Innovation” is a yearly event organized by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for inventors and innovators from the 36 states of the federation, Agencies and State Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation to showcase and exhibit their innovations and inventions especially in the areas of science and technology.
The highly attended event which took place from the 14th of March to 18th March 2022 at the Eagles Square, Abuja had participants from about 570 Agencies, Tertiary Institutions, Industries and Entrepreneurs in the country. The assessment of the various performances of participants was based on originality, efficiency, effectiveness, technological application and material clarity.
The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) emerged in the top two under the research category in Nigeria. This also implies that NBRRI also came out top two among the 17 Research agencies under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with Raw Materials Research and Development Agency as the first under the Research category.
NBRRI was outstanding with its exhibition of a one-storey detachable/movable house which drew the crowd to the exhibition stand which was made from laterite bricks and bamboo amongst other locally sourced materials.
Expressing his satisfaction with all participants at the Expo, the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu mentioned that the Expo will lead to investment for the production of goods and services which will in turn create employment and add value to the Nigerian economy.
He also added that this edition of the Expo is unique because innovators from all sectors have been accorded the opportunity to showcase to the world scientific research that can be produced from the country. He also added that due to the global economic and security malaise, the federal government has resolved to massively deploy indigenous technologies as a strategy to save the nation from these challenges.
On the closing ceremony of the Expo which took place on Friday 18th March, 2022, NBRRI’s Performance through the showcasing of the NBRRI’s Moveable House was the talk of the day by journalists, other inventors, dignitaries and participants. Outside attaining the second position, NBRRI was further recognized as the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu who led other notable Ministers and personalities was at the NBRRI’s Movable House.
At the end of the one-week Expo, the following Agencies, Institutions, Industries and Individual inventors emerged winners from their various categories;
1. TERTIARY INSTITUTION
i. Michael Okpara University OF Agriculture, Umudike – Project: Nianti-Viral, Anti-Tumor and Adjuvant Efficacies of Medicinal Synthetic Aluminium-Magnesium Silicate
ii. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State – Project: Smart Fishery System
iii. University of Jos – Project: Acimmune Tea
2. RESEARCH INSTITUTE
i. Raw Materials Research and Development Council – Project: Pilot Plant for Production of Hydrated Lime (Quicklime)
ii. Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) – Project: NBRRI Movable One-Storey Building Using Interlocking Blocks – 2nd
iii. National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria – Project: Production of Sustainable Consumer and Health Care Product/ Reactor (Semi Automated) – 2nd
iv. Nigerian Air Force Research and Development Centre – Project: Rocket Launchers
3. STATE MINISTRIES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
i. Imo State Ministry of Science and Technology – Project: Solar Inverter
ii. Edo State Ministry of Science and Technology – Project: Light Weight Utility Truck
iii. Gombe State Ministry of Science and Technology – Project: Water Stove
4. TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURS
i. Hajnaby Ventures Ltd/Binta Fatima Ibrahim, TIC Kaduna – Project: Baobab Oil
ii. TIC Kaduna Asma Begum Mirza – Project: Basmatic Rice
iii. Success Ikponwosa – Project: Blockchain Based E-Procurement Technology
5. SECONDARY SCHOOLS
i. Redstars International School, Runde Jalingo, Taraba State – Project: Stomalarin (A3 in 1 approach)
ii. Government Science and Technical College, Garki, Abuja – Project: Production of Reusable Sanitary Pads from Waste Banana Trunk
iii. Government Day Secondary School, Gwagwalada, Abuja – Project: Multi-Purpose Automatic Spring
