R–Bridge award winners of 2020 Microbiology Essay Competition for Nigerian universities
3 September 2020
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Editor
Last week, R-Bridge an initiative focused on empowering individuals and institutions to bridge research and innovation gaps in Nigeria, presented awards to the winners of its 2020 Microbiology Essay Competition themed, “How can microbiology improve lives and livelihood in Nigeria.”
According to a statement signed by R-Bridge`s Managing Partner Dr. Yinka Somorin, the winners of the essay competition were announced on Friday August 28, 2020.
"In the undergraduate category, Isaac Ajayi, a 400 Level Microbiology student of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, won the first prize. Favour Olaiya, a 400 Level student of Microbiology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was awarded the second prize, while the third prize went to Rahama Muhammad, a 300 Level student at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin," says the statement.
"In the postgraduate categories, Victory Nnaemeka, an MSc student of Microbiology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was awarded the first prize. Lotachukwu Enukora, an MSc student of Biotechnology at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, was awarded the second prize, while Oluwatosin Orababa, an MSc student of Microbiology of the University of Lagos, was awarded the third prize," the statement added.
In both categories, the winners of the essay competition were awarded Certificates, a Tablet, one-year membership subscription of Microbiology Society (UK), and career mentorship by a microbiologist in the Diaspora.
Some of the solutions proffered by the winning entries include development of green technologies for the management of pests and weeds to increase crop yield, management of waste and other environmental pollutants that could be converted to useful products, especially for the production of energy, which is a major burden in Nigeria, and development of biotechnological techniques to improve the production of better and safer food under controlled conditions, among others.
"R-Bridge is delighted at the success of the competition and thank Microbiology Society (UK) for providing free membership subscriptions to winners. At R-Bridge, we are continually driven by a commitment to strengthen local resources and manpower in STEM education and research through multi-layered interventions that will engender excellence, drive innovation and meet the needs of the society," the statement said.