By Emmanuel Nduka
The Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH, has won the maiden Nigerian Content Science and Technology Innovation Challenge organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB to encourage research innovations among undergraduates in Nigerian universities.
The CRUTECH team represented by Victoria Effiong and Paul Agbor, produced a Solar Element Stove to be used as alternate for renewable and cheaper alternative cooking.
The contestants were picked ahead of entries from over 170 public and private institutions across Nigeria who entered for the science and technology innovation challenge.
The school team who were listed among the six finalists were able to successfully defend their product before the panel of judges during the final exhibition at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, coming out with the first position, and took home the star prize of N10 million naira.
Also, University of Jos, who produced a hydroponic system of growing food indoors without soil, clinched second position and won the second prize of 4 million naira while the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi who produced a noiseless, fuel-less electric generator to provide alternate power source won the third prize and took home one point five million naira.
Speaking during the event, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Simbi Wabote, said the aim of the innovation challenge is to develop capacity and capabilities to catalyze the attachment of Nigerian content targets set in the NOGIC Acts, 2010.
Wabote commended their partner Enactus Nigeria for the brilliant show of investing in students to create enterpreneurs and value-driven social innovators across 1,730 campuses in 36 countries all over the world.
He added that the Nigerian Content Science Technology and Innovation Challenge, STIC was initiated to fill the gap in Nigeria research and development, innovation, invention, and local manufacturing.
