4th from left: VC’s rep. Prof. Mohammed; The Centre Leader, ACEMFS, Prof. Makun (2nd left); The Director, Entrepreneurship Centre, Engr. Prof. Alenoghena (right), in a snapshot with the winners of the contestants.
Emmanuel Victoria of Sokvikia Enterprises in Lokoja, Kogi State, clinched the N1 million star prize at the Innovation Week 2024 on Food Security and Food Safety Award Ceremony, held at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna. Her project, Victech Solar Klin, was recognised for its excellence.
The event, organised by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS) in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Centre, FUT, Minna, took place from June 24 to 27, 2024 at the Entrepreneurship Centre, Main Campus.
Musa Ali Pashi of Palmark Syndicate in Bayo, Borno State, won the first runner-up prize of N750,000 for his project on Processing Tomatoes. Ariyo Adefolarin David, a master’s student in the Department of Telecommunication Engineering, FUT, Minna, secured the third position and a prize of N500,000 for his project, Save Yam.
In his brief remarks at the event, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, the Vice-Chancellor, was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Engr. Prof. Abdullahi Mohammed commended the two centres’ efforts to organise such a programme that would benefit students and youth in the country even after graduation from tertiary institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Innovation Week, showcase the incredible ingenuity and dedication of staff and students towards insuring secure and food safety for the generality of Nigerians and the world at large.
“Adequate food supply is essential for boosting productivity in a nation. When there is enough food, people are more likely to be productive, but if food is scarce, productivity levels will suffer,” Prof. Kuta emphasised.
Prof. Kuta also extended his congratulations to all the contestants, acknowledging that each of them was a winner in their own right. He encouraged those who did not receive a prize not to be disheartened, as their innovative ideas had the potential to excel in other forums and platforms, potentially leading to future success and recognition.
Presenting a brief on Innovation Week 2024, the Centre Leader, ACEMFS, Prof. Hussaini Anthony Makun, highlighted that the centre was established with a mandate to make sure that capacities are built and provide research solutions to make food safer for the world. And indeed the food focus is on Africa and Nigeria.
Prof. Makun revealed that there are more than 200 diseases that are from food so much more than any other aspect of our lives. It is the food that we should be bothered about that is why the Government of Nigeria Under the facilitation of the World Bank deem it fit for a centre like this to come up with research solutions and train capacity towards making our food safer.
“According to records, Nigeria suffered a significant economic loss of N667.4 billion between 2010 and 2016 due to the prevalence of harmful substances in our food. This is because our agricultural exports often fail to meet international standards, resulting in their destruction,” he stated.
This, he highlights, is a critical issue – our inability to harness our country’s agricultural resources to provide safe and nutritious food for our citizens, as well as tap into the economic potential of our agricultural sector. He further emphasised that this oversight has undoubtedly contributed to Nigeria’s struggles with poverty and economic growth.
In her welcome address, the Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre, Engr. Prof. Caroline Alenoghena, stressed that the event’s primary goal is to harness innovations that promote food safety, leveraging technology and all possible means. She emphasised that the event’s scope is all-encompassing, denoted by the term ‘360,’ indicating that no idea or concept is too small or too big to be considered, as long as it contributes to ensuring food safety.
She urged participants to remain undeterred and instead, draw inspiration from the experience to propel their careers to greater heights. Prof. Alenoghena revealed that from an impressive 250 entries, only 50 outstanding projects emerged after a rigorous selection process, earning a spot in the boot camp.
She reaffirmed the Centre’s dedication to supporting these projects and providing a platform for young innovators to transform their ideas into tangible realities.
The Chief Judge, of the competition and Dean, School of Innovation, Process Engineering Technology, Engr. Prof. Zinash Osunde, encourages the contestants that for those who did not win today, does not mean that their ideas are not good.
The Judge congratulated all the contestants for doing very well at the competition and advised those who loss not to be discouraged.
In his address, the Sectoral Liaison Officer of ACEFM, Prof. Abdulkareem Ambali Saka congratulated all the participants while also offering words of caution, urging them to maintain the confidentiality of their projects and avoid sharing their plans with others to prevent idea theft.
Prof. Saka, under whose office the event is domiciled also assured the participants that their projects would be patented to ensure their intellectual property is protected and secured.
A feedback on behalf of other participants Ameh Blessing and Ariyo Adefolarin David, expressed their overwhelming gratitude and joy for the Innovation Week 2024. They also thanked the ACEMFS and the Entrepreneurship Centre.
The award ceremony marked the grand finale of Innovation Week, which aimed to promote innovative solutions in food security and food safety. Seven other participants were also given consolation prizes of the sum of N50,000.00 they are: Adegoke Abigail , Adio Seun, Ojoma Anyebe, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Suleiman Maryam, Sodiq Olamifekan Isiaq and Precious Enwerem. Also present at the event were the Deputy Centre, Leader, ACEMFS, Prof. Hadiza Lami Muhammad, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ACEMFS, Dr. Helen Shnada Auta and Prof. J. O. Tijjani.
