Angela Onwuzoo
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry have called for an improved collaboration between the business community and the science and research sector in Nigeria to accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The stakeholders said there was a need to close the gaps in meeting the SDGs by 2030, especially in reducing neonatal mortality.
NLNG during a joint event organised with the LCCI for industry players in Lagos on Wednesday, endorsed the winning work for the 2023 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science.
The work by Professor Hippolite Amadi, NLNG said, was a significant innovation that had introduced three technological innovations that made the delivery of oxygen cheap and easy for medically challenged newborns in Nigeria.
According to the gas company, the Nigeria Prize for Science, a prestigious initiative sponsored by NLNG, over the years, continues to play a pivotal role in stimulating ground-breaking innovations aimed at improving healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the event, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, represented by Yemi Adeyemi, Acting Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, said a report by the World Health Organisation in 2023 ranked Nigeria as the country with the second highest number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths worldwide.
He noted that Nigeria stands the risk of normalising neonatal mortality if nothing was done to stop it.
“The groundbreaking innovations of Professor Amadi, as recognised by The Nigeria Prize for Science, are not merely a step forward for our nation but a beacon of hope for the countless newborns that hang in the balance.
“We cannot afford to let the cries of our newborns fade into the background of our daily lives. The urgency to combat neonatal mortality is a solemn duty to safeguard the future of our nation’s children, and we must answer that call with unwavering determination and immediate, decisive measures.
“NLNG is very proud of Professor Amadi’s discoveries through The Nigeria Prize for Science. Our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria is the core of the prize, and we believe strongly that the 2023 winning entry speaks in unambiguous terms as one of the ways we can achieve this vision.
“NLNG remains committed to the prize and will not relent in finding solutions to the nation’s development issues,” he stated.
The guests at the event included the 2023 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science, Professor Amadi; LCCI President, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa; the LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona; and other LCCI executives.
The LCCI Director-General, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, stated in his address that the business interactive forum provided a unique opportunity for the Nigerian business community to learn from Professor Amadi’s work.
He said that if Nigeria, given its natural endowments, is to successfully transform its economy and achieve significant growth, science and technology and its integration into the socio-economic development process must be accorded the highest priority.
“It is important to note the recognition of Professor Amadi’s work in the field of newborn and child healthcare, which was selected from over a hundred entries.
“ The work is not only based on how it can significantly advance neonatal care in Nigeria but also on how it can improve access and reduce neonatal care costs.
“We urge the government to provide targeted funding toward the local production of healthcare and pharmaceutical devices, as this will help reduce the burden of foreign exchange spent on importing most of our healthcare needs in Nigeria.
“Several lessons can be drawn from this achievement regarding our daily business and personal life,” he said.
He applauded NLNG, the prize sponsor, for being one of the best-run public-private partnerships that has consistently contributed to the Nigerian economy through dividends and taxes.
The Nigeria Prize for Science is a $100,000 is sponsored by NLNG to proffer innovations in science and technology to solve age-long problems and drive development in Nigeria.
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