Three engineering innovators have been awarded the sum of N20 million by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) through its engineering innovation competition.

The competition, which was held in Lagos, is the second in the series and attracted about 60 innovation submissions across the country out of which seven were selected.

However, the innovation entitled:” production of 3-D printing filament from Pet bottles” led by Dr Anye Vitalis, the Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja emerged as the winner of the competition and awarded N10 million. The second position was won by a group of innovators from the Federal University of Technology, Akure who developed an automated hot air dryer powered by TLUD biomass gasifier. The group won a cash prize of N5 million.

In the third position, two winners emerged. They include a group of engineers who developed a smart solar inverter management system and Prof Babson Ajibade, a former head of the Department of Visual Arts and Technology at the University of Cross River State University, Calabar. Each won a cash prize of N2.5 million. Other winners got N500,000 each.

For the chairman travel fellowship grant award, Dr Terseer Ako of the University of Jos won $4,000, while the academy presented various awards to supporting firms and organisations that have been sponsoring activities of the NAEng over the past years.

Speaking on the initiative at the NAEng 2025 technology dinner and award night, the President of the Academy, Prof Rahamon Bello, pointed out that the problems of the country can only be solved by Nigerians, adding that the huge numbers of brilliant Nigerians are challenged by lack of opportunities to exhibit their skills.

This, he said, the academy was trying to address through the innovation competition by exposing the real concept of engineering innovation towards supporting all sectors of life and the economy. “We try to pick the best three every year and try to support them to reach the goal of commercialisation. We have a committee that we will expose them to would-be investors and make their invention available for Nigerians.”

He highlighted that the innovation competition was a push towards supporting the ‘Nigeria first policy’ recently announced by the Federal Government. Bello highlighted the need to patronise Nigerian-made products as a priority, stressing that the nation must develop innovative things that can solve the nation’s problems, and create more Nigerian products that can benefit the economy.

Chairman of NAEng Innovation Competition Committee, Dr ‘Keluo Chukwuogo, disclosed that each of the innovations presented has the quality of engineering input sought after and was relevant to national development but one came out first. He emphasised that the government needs to support initiatives such as the engineering innovation competition.

Chukwuogo said the harsh economic situation in the country limits the development and growth of innovations. “When someone has done something in the area of innovation in Nigeria, it should be supported by the government and Nigerian enterprises,” he said.

MEANWHILE, the academy has presented life achievement awards to eight fellows who have attained the age of 75 and inducted 12 new fellows into its fold.