NLNG PRIZE FOR SCIENCE WINNERS URGE NIGERIAN YOUTH TO PURSUE DREAMS, ADVOCATE FOR MORE RESEARCH PROGRAMME 11-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu The winners of the 2024 Nigeria NLNG Prize for Science, Dr. Olajide Otitoju, Prof. Eni Oko, and Dr. Mechong Wang, have called on Nigerian youths to remain committed to pursuing their dreams despite the challenges they may encounter in life.
The trio made this appeal while speaking with Africa247 correspondent in Abuja.
They also urged research and educational institutions to establish more programmes aimed at fostering innovation.
The scientists however, took out time to share their personal stories on how they encountered challenges on their path to success and how they overcame them.
Dr. Otitoju highlighted the importance of perseverance, noting that the path to success is often riddled with setbacks.
While Prof. Oko re-echoed the need for the Nigerian youths to be resilient in their quest for success, he urged them to stay focused on their goals and take advantage of opportunities to learn and grow.
Dr. Wang emphasized the role of educational institutions in nurturing talents, calling for the creation of more research programs to inspire innovation in school.
He stressed that with the right support structures in place, Nigerian youths could lead the way in scientific discovery and technological advancement.
The winners also noted that the challenges they faced ranged from limited funding to inadequate research infrastructure .
They however, advised that these challenges should not deter aspiring innovators from contributing their quota to the world of innovations.
They stressed that these challenges should motivate them to seek solutions and collaborate with one another.
This year’s winners were honored for their groundbreaking work in carbon capture technology, which has the potential to address environmental challenges and improve energy efficiency.