The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) has begun an engineering innovation competition, aimed at promoting infrastructure and technological development in the country.
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The move according to the academy will scale up innovations, promote them to investors and commercialise the products.

While disclosing this to journalists in Lagos, the academy President, Prof. Peter Onwualu, said many Nigerians in the informal and formal sector have concepts and ideas that need to be commercialised.

According to him, such products will contribute to the production economy of the country, reduce reliance on foreign goods and foreign exchange, as well as boost the nation’s gross domestic products.

He said: “One of the things you will hear our politicians talk about is how to move from consumption to production-oriented economy so that the nation can go to the global table with something to show. There is a lot of pressure on the naira because we don’t produce or produce little. This is one of our contributions towards making Nigeria a production economy.”

Onwualu explained that the competition is open to all Nigerian engineers, scientists, technologists, technicians and craftsmen, and other professionals involved with engineering creativity, while prizes for the best concepts will include cash, public recognition, and promotion of winning concepts to investors, as well as certificates and plaques.

Chairman of the innovation competition, Dr. Chukukeluo Chukwuogo, said the objective of the competition is to identify, encourage and reward innovative works in science, engineering and technology that address and solve societal problems, as well as help in the development of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the initiative will promote innovative works by individuals or groups in any discipline or aspect of engineering, including information communications technology /telecommunications, agriculture & food processing, energy and energy transition.

Others, he said include renewables, infrastructure development, health & health management, waste management and environmental protection, transportation, mining and mineral processing, artificial intelligence and robotics, climate change and related ecological challenges and manufacturing.

The Technical Secretary, NAEng, Bayo Adeola, said the award is a yearly event, while submissions will be in two stages, starting with the submission of concept note of innovations covering a period of six weeks that will expire next week.

Adeola said: “The concept note is expected to contain brief description of the innovation and the particular problems that it addresses or solves, societal and economic benefits of the innovation, description of the engineering processes that it covers, the degree of development of the prototype and sketches, photographs, drawings and other illustrations that can aid the understanding of the innovation and profile of the individual or groups.”

Also speaking on the project, NAEng Secretary, Mrs. Christiana Adelowo, said every concept will be screened to assess the degree and level of innovation, engineering content, originality, and impact on our national development.
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