NAE: Engineering Innovators Promise of Nigeria’s Technology Driven Future
Dike Onwuamaeze
The President of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Professor Rahmon Ade Bello, has declared that Nigerian engineering innovators hold the promise of country’s brighter technology-driven future.
Bello made this declaration this week in Lagos during the NEA 2025 Technology Dinner and Awards Night.
He said, “Tonight, we come together to honour innovation, excellence and unwavering commitment to engineering and to the promotion and recognition of outstanding achievements in engineering, innovation, entrepreneurship and technological advancement in Nigeria.
“Earlier today, the pre-dinner exhibition gave us a glimpse into the creativity and ingenuity of the finalists in the academy’s 2nd National Innovation Competition.
“We recognise the winners of this year’s innovation competition. These innovators represent the promise of a brighter, technology-driven future and we are proud to support and celebrate their achievements.”
Bello also presented the NAE’s ‘Academy Travel Fellowship Grant Award’, which is intended to support and encourage research and international exposure for young locally trained Nigerian engineering academics wishing to travel for their post-doctoral fellowship in the field of engineering.
“This grant reinforces the academy’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineering leaders.”
The recipient of this year’s Academy Travel Fellowship Grant Award is Dr. Terseer Ako of the University of Jos.
Bello, who was the former vice chancellor of University of Lagos, said that “we have young teeming population but the opportunities to express themselves are lacking.
“The little we are doing is to expose the real concept of innovation within the engineering profession to be able to support all facets of our lives and economy.
“What we do is to pick the best three every year and try to support and assist them to reach the goal of commercialisation where their innovations will be available for everyone to use.”
A Council Member of the NAE, Dr. ’Keluo B. Chukwuogo, said that the criteria for selecting the winners in the innovation awards are innovativeness, relevance to national development and engineering input.
Chukwuogo said that “government ought to help and support this innovation drive but the unfortunate thing is that government does not support Made-in-Nigeria.
“People are careful to say this but that is actually the truth. If government supports Made-in-Nigeria we will not have our members of National Assembly and state legislators driving foreign made SUVs” when we have viable local automobile industry.
The winner of 2025 innovation award of N10 million is the Acting Dean, School of Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Dr. Anye Vitalis, for “production of 3D printing filament from pet bottles.”
Those that came second and smiled home with N5 million each were Professor Ayoola Patrick Olalusi; Professor Kehinde Folake Jaiyeoba; Dr. John Isa and Mr. Suliamo Abiodun Olaleye, for their innovation in “automated hot air dryer powered by tlud biomass gasifier,
Winners in the third category were former Head, Department of Visual Arts and Technology, University of Cross River State, Professor Babson Ajibade, and Professor Dahunsi Folasade, Dr. Agbolade Olaide, Mr. Charles Udekwe and Mr. Adesola Olayiwola, all of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. They won N2.5 million each.
